No.  32 


f>HOTO  BY 
r       /      3AR0NY 


J.PEI^KINS 
TRACY 


All  stories  Copyrighted 
Cannot  be  had  in  any 
other  edition      J>     J^ 


STREET    ^LIBR/M' 
&  SMITH       ^ ...— ^ 

Publishers,  New  York 


# 


0- 


The  Blockade  Runner 


J.  PERKINS  TRACY 

AUTHOR   OF 

'The  Heart  of  Virginia,"  "Won  by  the  Sword,"  etc. 


STREET  &  SMITH  CORPORATION 

PUBLISHERS 

79-89  Seventh  Avenue,  New  York 


I_, -^m 

r               I 

Copyright.  1896 

By  STREET  &  SMITH 

The  Blockade  Runner 

L                  J 

■■i                 ■    ■                                     H^ 

All  rights  reserved,  including  that  of  translation  Into  foreign 
languages.  Including  the  Scandinavinn. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    BLOCKADE    EUNNEK. 

"  What  are  our  chances  jof  getting  into  Wilmington 
to-night,  cap'n  ?" 

The  speaker,  a  fine,  handsome  young  fellow  of 
twenty-five,  attired  in  a  thick  pea-jacket,  dark  blue 
trowsers  and  undress  naval  cap,  had  just  come  on  the 
quarterdeck  from  the  cabin  of  the  steamer  Foxhound. 

"  Good,"  was  Captain  Powell's  brief  reply.     - 

He  held  his  mouth  close  to  the  young  man's  ear  so 
that  the  word  should  not  be  blown  back  down  his 
throat. 

A  heavy  winter's  gale  was  shrieking  through  the 
rigging  of  the  vessel,  and  the  dark  sea  was  running 
furiously. 

She  was  steaming  comparatively  slowly,  head  on  to 
the  billows,  while  Foul  weather  Tom,  the  pilot,  on 
whom  rested  the  responsibility  of  taking  her  over  the 
bar,  was  the  picture  of  anxious  watchfulness. 

The  steamer  was  wrapped  in  darkness  from  stem  to 
stern — not  the  gleam  of  a  lantern  visible,  and  the  bin- 
acle  light  was  completely  shaded. 

"  It's  a  snorter — this  night  is,"  said  the  young  maa 
presently,  turning  his  back  against  the  wind. 


1 


8  THE  BLOCKADE  EUNNER. 

The  skipper  did  not  immediately  reply,  for  a  terrible 
gust  just  then  swept  the  deck,  sending  a  quantity  of 
cold  spray  into  his  face,  and  a  chill  along  his  bones. 

"  It's  a  regular  January  blow,"  he  shouted  at  length, 
his  cheeks  puffing  out  like  a  pair  of  bellows. 

"  Seen  any  gun  boats  ?" 

"Nary  one,''  replied  the  captain.  "  They're  pretty 
well  scattered  to-night,  I  reckon,  and  we  are  not  likely 
to  be  seen  at  all,  unless  we  run  afoul  of  one  of  them 
ourselves." 

He  turned  red  in  the  face  from  the  exertion  of 
talking. 

"  Come  below,  Mr.  Bentham.  I'm  chilled  to  the 
bone  and  must  have  a  bracer.     We  can't  talk  here." 

The  pair  at  once  dived  down  the  companion  way. 

Captain  Powell  wiped  the  tiny  icicles  from  his 
beard  and  eyebrowSj  and  the  moisture  from  his  mahog- 
any-hued  cheeks. 

He  then  mixed  two  glasses  of  stiff  grog,  and  pushing 
one  toward  his  companion,  gulped  down  the  contents 
of  the  other  with  evident  relish. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  skipper  complacently,  "  we  will 
make  port  safely  this  time.  It  is  just  the  kind  of  night 
for  it — black  as  ink  and  blowing  great  guns.  You  feel 
bow  the  old  gal  rises  to  the  sea — and  she's  as  dry  as  a 
bone.  I  had  her  thoroughly  overhauled  and  freshly 
caulked  at  Cherbourg,  for  I  knew  what  I  might  expect 
off  this  coast  at  this  time  of  the  year.  Some  of  those 
leaky  tubs  that  try  to  run  the  blockade  would  founder 
in  this  gale." 

"  I  should  say  the  Foxhound  is  a  stanch  craft,"  re- 
plied young  Bentha.B.  "  I  have  been  impressed  with 
her  seagoing  qualities  since  I  took  passage  on  board. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  9 

She's  got  such  a  reputation  that  I  fancy  Uncle  Sam 
would  be  glad  to  overhaul  her." 

"  You  can  take  your  davy  to  that,  Mr.  Bentham," 
said  the  skipper  with  a  grin.  "  but  he  won't  have  that 
pleasure  this  trip,  nor  for  many  more  trips,  if  I  can 
help  it.  Foul  weather  Tom  is  the  crack  pilot  in  this 
business,  and  the  Foxhound  has  a  mortgage  on  his 
services.  What  he  don't  know  about  the  channels  and 
shoals  and  sand  bars  off  Charleston  and  Wilmington, 
as  well  as  the  Georgia  coast,  ain't  worth  considering. 
There's  two  channels  into  Wilmington,  where  we're 
bound — the  bar  channel  and  the  beach  channel — and  if 
you  don't  keep  your  weather  eye  lifting  on  a  night 
^uch  as  this  the  chances  are  you  run  hard  and  fast  on  to 
the  middle  ground,  and  with  such  a  sea  running  you'd 
go  to  pieces  in  no  time." 

"  That  would  be  pleasant  certainly." 

"I  reckon  you  might  say  your  prayers,  if  you  know 
any.     Have  another  tot  of  grog." 

"  Thanks,  not  any  more,"  said  Bentham. 

"You  must  be  aware  the  Yankee  fleet  has  a  big  job 
on  its  hands  when  it  undertakes  to  blockade  Wilming- 
ton," said  the  bronzed  old  sea-dog  while  he  mixed  him- 
self a  second  potation.  "  When  the  wind  blows  off  the 
coast,  the  vessels  are  forced  to  sea  and  scattered  ;  when 
it  turns  and  blows  landward  they  are  compelled  to 
haul  off  to  escape  the  awful  sea.  For  six  months  in 
the  year  it  is  next  to  impossible  for  a  vessel  to  lie  at 
anchor  safely  off  the  Carolina  coast.  So  you  see  that 
everything  is  in  our  favor." 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  it,"  said  the  young  man. 

"  This  gale  is  a  little  worse,  if  anything,  than  the  one 
that  took  us  in  with  our  last  cargo.     Then  we  were 


10  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

laden  with  shoes,  blankets,  caps  and  blouses  for  tue 
graycoats ;  now,  our  hold  is  stored  with  muskets, 
sabers,  percussion  caps  and  such  things,  besides  a  quan- 
tity of  quinine,  the  most  valuable  thing  of  all." 

"  Worth  about " 

"  The  whole  cargo  V 

"  Yes." 

"  Say  about  three  millions." 

The  passenger  started,  and  seemed  to  meditate  for 
a  moment. 

"  Oh,  we  carry  richer  cargoes  thafx  this  sometimes," 
continued  the  captain,  mistaking  meditation  for  amaze- 
ment. "  And  the  beauty  of  it  all  is  that  we've  never 
lost  one." 

"The  pitcher  which  goes  often  to  the  well  gets 
broken  at  last,  you  know,"  said  Bentham,  smiling. 

"  There  are  exceptions  to  every  rule,"  said  Captain 
Powell,  "and  the  Foxhound  is  fast  proving  that  adage 
a  downright  humbug.  Do  you  know,  sir,  that  this  is 
ray  eighth  successful  run  ?" 

"  You  astonish  me." 

"  Fact,  sir.  This  steamer  has  paid  for  herself  several 
times  over,  for  the  profits  are  enormous." 

"  So  I  have  heard." 

"  I  shall  fill  up  to  the  hatches  with  cotton,  which 
stands  us  in  about  eight  cents  a  pound.  How  much  do 
you  think  it  will  fetch  at  Liverpool  ?" 

"  I  haven't  the  slightest  idea,"  said  Bentham,  though 
he  knew  very  well  that  the  price  of  that  material  in 
Europe  was  extremely  high. 

"  About  fourshilUings  a  pound,"  replied  the  skipper, 
smacking  his  lips  with  great  gusto,  as  though  the  mere 
mention  of  that  figure  was  like  an  agreeable  morsel 
on  the  tongue. 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  11 

"  I  don't  wonder  this  war  enriches  some  people  very 
fast,"  said  the  young  man  thoug-htfully. 

"  I  should  say  it  does.  Why,  sir,  there  are  people,  to 
my  knowledge,  who  are  now  riding  about  in  their  car- 
riages, that  a  year — ay,  six  months  ago — were  compar- 
atively paupers.  What  was  Kassau  before  the  war  \ 
The  inhabitants  were  chiefly  wreckers  and  tlsherraen, 
and  but  few  vessels  lay  along  the  wharves  or  rode  in 
the  offing.  Look  at  the  place  to-day  !  The  harbor  is 
alive  with  shipping,  and  its  wharves  are  crowded  with 
cotton  bales  awaiting  transportation  to  Europe,  as 
well  as  merchandise,  contraband  of  war,  ready  to  be 
shipped  for  the  blockaded  Southern  ports.  It  is  the 
chief  depot  for  the  traffic.  Confederate  agents  are 
established  there,  and  the  town  has  expanded  into  a 
port  of  immense  importance." 

Captain  Powell's  passenger  listened  but  said  noth- 
ing. 

"  You  understand  that  the  Bahamas,  beinof  a  British 
possession,  the  Yankee  cruisers  cannot  effect  a  legal 
capture  within  the  three-mile  limit,  so  they  are  forced 
to  take  their  station  off  Abaco  Light,  and  run  their 
chance.  The  blockade  runners  generally  await  a  dark 
and  foggy  night  for  getting  away,  and  as  we  are  care- 
ful to  show  no  lights,  you  may  easily  judge  that  the 
cruisers  have  no  sinecure  trying  to  catch  us." 

"  It  is  unusual  for  a  blockade  runner  to  go  direct  to 
Europe  and  then  return  with  a  contraband  cargo,  as 
you  have  lately  done,  isn't  it,  cap'n  ?"  said  Bentham. 

"  Yes.  Most  of  these  vessels  are  liorht-drausrht 
steamers  built  expressly  for  the  trade,  and  intended 
only  to  make  the  trip,  either  from  Bermuda,  Nassau 
or  Cuba.     The  Foxhound  is  a  superior  vessel,  and  the 


12  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

ownei's,  of  which  I  am  one,  had  reasons  for  assuming 
an  unusually  hazardous  risk.  1  shall  not  repeat  the 
venture,  at  least  not  very  soon.  Had  you  not  run  foul 
of  me  at  Cherbourg,  Mr.  Bentham,  you  would  not  likely 
have  made  this  voyage  direct.  You  would  have  been 
obliged  to  take  passage  for  one  of  the  places  I  have  just 
named  and  there  transhipped." 

"  I  consider  myself  fortunate  in  having  secured  pas- 
sage in  the  Foxhound,  the  more  especially  as  she  is  a 
lucky  vessel." 

"  Ay,  ay ;  but  you'll  have  to  excuse  me  now,  as  I 
judge  we  are  approaching  dangerous  ground.  If  I 
were  you,  sir,  I'd  remain  below.  It's  a  deal  sight 
cosier  than  on  deck  such  a  night  as  this." 

"  Thank  you  ;  but  I  don't  mind  the  storm  a  bit 
You  know  I  got  my  sea  legs  on  long  ago." 

"  Well,  please  yourself." 

Captain  Powell  stalked  up  the  brass-bound  staircase 
facing  t\\Q  wheel,  his  passenger  close  at  his  heels. 

As  they  emerged  from  their  shelter  the  wind  almost 
took  then  off  their  feet,  and  the  icy  spray  blown  aft, 
as  it  continually  came  over  the  bows  of  the  steamer, 
struck  their  faces  like  cold  kisses  from  the  depths  of 
the  sea. 

It  was  the  night  of  — th  of  January,  1862,  and  one 
of  the  wildest  storms  that  swept  the  North  Carolina 
coast  during  war  times  was  then  at  its  height. 

The  Foxhound  was  not  the  only  vessel  abroad  in 
the  gale. 

Toward  sundown  a  strong  easterly  wind  had  met 
the  ebb-tide,  and  the  whole  coast  presented  a  terrible 
appearance. 

The  fleet  of  Federal  blockaders,  which  for  months 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER,  13 

had  confronted  Wilmington  with  their  grim  guns,  was 
compelled  to  seek  safety  in  the  offing,  for  to  remain 
near  the  coast  would  prove  certain  destruction. 

Added  to  the  wind,  that  blew  with  tremendous 
force,  was  a  perfect  hailstorm  of  sleet,  that  cut  the 
darkness  like  Scythian  arrows. 

Besides,  the  cold  was  enough  to  freeze  any  one  at 
the  helm. 

The  Foxhound  steadily  pursued  her  way. 

Time  and  again  she  had  successfully  run  the  blockade, 
and  Captain  Powell  did  not  believe  that  there  could 
be  a  break  in  his  former  good  luck. 

She  was  an  English-built  craft,  a  remarkably  swift 
one,  and  so  arranged  that  she  could  navigate  the  seas 
Avith  or  without  steam. 

She  carried  no  armament  aside  from  her  officers' 
private  weapons. 

Her  forte  was  flight,  not  resistance,  and  there  was 
not  in  the  Federal  service  at  that  time  a  vessel  swift 
enough  to  overhaul  her. 

Time  and  again  she  had  been  chased  on  the  high 
seas,  but  alwa3's  outwitted  her  hunters. 

She  was  well  known  to  the  Union  fleet,  by  which 
she  was  constantly  watched. 

Her  cargoes  were  always  sure  to  be  of  great  value 
to  the  Confederacy ;  and  on  the  night  mentioned 
above  she  carried  one  worth,  as  her  captain  has  said, 
three  million  dollars. 

]S"ot  three  millions  in  Confederate  bills,  but  in  hard, 
glittering  gold. 

The  passenger  resolutely  facing  the  wintry  gale  on 
the~w^et  decks  of  the  trim  blockade  runner  was  a  man 
who  had  boarded  her  at  Cherbourg,  from  whence  she 
had  sailed  bound  for  Wilmington. 


14  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

He  was  a  young  man  named  Robert  Bentham,  an 
American  by  birth,  and  a  person  who  seemed  to  know 
a  good  deal  about  ship  gunnery. 

Indeed,  he  had  been  educated  at  one  of  the  best 
naval  schools  in  France,  and  was  on  his  way  to  take 
part  in  the  terrible  conflict  raging  between  the  two 
sections  of  the  Union. 

On  which  side  ? 

Why  ask  the  question,  when  we  find  him  a  pas- 
senger on  board  a  Confederate  blockade  runnerj  and 
almost  in  port  ? 

If  his  sympathies  w^ere  with  the  Union,  why  did  he 
hot  take  passage  in  a  vessel  bound  for  New  York  ? 

Let  the  future  pages  of  our  romance  solve  these 
questions. 

For  some  time  the  Foxhound  kept  steadily  on  her 
course,  breasting  the  terrible  waves  with  her  cutting 
prow,  and  guided  all  the  time  by  the  sailor  at  the 
wheel. 

Captain  Powell  knew  that  the  storm  had  beaten  the 
Federal  blockaders  off  the  coast. 

But  his  experience  also  taught  him  that  the  gun- 
boats kept  a  particularly  argus-eyed  watch  on  such 
nisrhts  as  this,  as  it  offered  a  favorable  chance  for  the 
low-lying  lead-painted  blockade  runners  to  elude  the 
squadron. 

In  spite  of  the  assertion  he  had  made  to  his  pas- 
senger of  a  safe  and  speedy  run,  he  was  fully  alive  to 
the  dangers  that  beset  him  as  he  drew  in  near  the 
shore. 

He  could  not  tell  what  moment  he  might  run  foul 
of  a  gunboat. 

He  knew  the  crews  were  kept  ready  at  their  stations 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNEB.  15 

[or  every  emergency,  and  that  a  sudden  and  well- 
directed  broadside  would  cripple  if  not  sink  the  Fox- 
hound at  a  most  unexpected  juncture. 

The  squadron  steamed  about  as  close  in  shore  as 
they  dared,  and  now  every  instant  was  fraught  with 
the  greatest  peril. 

With  an  anxious  face,  and  eyes  tr3^ing  to  pierce  the 
night,  he  stood  on  deck  watching  the  course  of  his 
gallant  ship,  as  she  pressed  on  through  the  awful  seas 
that  seemed  always  to  ingulf  her. 

His  beard  was  a  mass  of  ice,  but  he  did  not  mind 
the  cold  and  the  storm. 

All  at  once  there  rose  between  him  and  the  swelling 
sea  a  huge  object,  darker  than  the  night  itself. 

Captain  Powell  sprang  toward  the  wheel,  with  an 
exclamation  struggling  to  his  lips. 

"I  see  it,  sir,"  said  Foulweather  Tom,  before  the 
captain  could  speak.  "  It  is  a  Yankee  blockader. 
Hard  a-port!"  he  said  softl}'^  to  the  helmsman. 

The  w^heel  spun  around  "and  the  Foxhound  sheered 
off  within  a  biscuit-toss  of  the  dangerous  object. 

It  was  a  moment  of  intense  anxiety  to  all  on  deck. 


16  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 


CHAPTER  IT. 

AN    AWFOL  PROJECT. 

Brave  as  he  was,  Captain  Ralph  Powell  held  his 
breath  fi'om  fear. 

Every  second  he  expected  to  see  her  ports  fly  open, 
and  her  guns  open  lire  ;  and  his  strained  imagination 
pictured  the  ripping  and  tearing  sound  of  the  wooden 
hull  of  his  steamer  under  the  hail  of  iron  missiles. 

The  terrible  suspense  really  only  lasted  for  a  brief 
interval,  and  then  the  Foxhound  was  running  under 
the  blockader's  bows  like  a  phantom. 

She  soon  left  the  gunboat  in  her  wake,  a  blot  on  the 
water,  from  which  it  vanished  as  th6  distance  between 
the  two  vessels  increased. 

"  A  narrow  shave,  by  George !"  exclaimed  the  skip- 
per softly,  drawing  a  long  breath. 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  responded  the  pilot,  calmly  resuming 
his  position  by  the  weather  rail. 

With  the  salty  sleet  blowing  like  hailstones  in  his 
eyes,  and  flogging  his  weather-beaten  cheeks,  Foul 
weather  Tom  clung  to  his  post  and  peered  into  the 
blackness  ahead,  fully  conscious  that  he  was  doing  his 
duty. 

It  was  now  about  two  bells,  or  one  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  though  of  course  the  bells  were  not  struck. 

The   captain  went  on   the  bridge,  followed  by  his 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  17 

passenger,  and  Foulweather  Tom  followed  after  a 
time. 

"  What's  that  just  for'ard  of  the  port  beam,  cap'n  ?" 
said  Bentham  suddenly,  pointing  to  a  spot  a  little 
darker,  if  that  ^Qre  possible,  than  the  surrounding 
water. 

"  By  gum  !     A  gunboat !" 

Powell's  eyes  seemed  about  to  leap  from  their 
sockets. 

"And  yonder,"  ejaculated  Bentham  excitedly,  "  is  a 
second  one." 

"  We  are  running  into  the  midst  of  the  Yankee 
squadron,"  exclaimed  the  skipper,  jumping  toward  the 
pilot. 

"  Vessels  straight  ahead  and  off  our  bows,  Tom,"  he 
said. 

"I  know  it,  captain." 

"  We  are  in  a  dangerous  place." 

"  That's  so,  sir." 

The  coolness  of  the  pilot  argued  well  for  the  success 
of  the  expedition. 

For  a  few  moments  longer  the  Foxhound  kept  port- 
ward,  when  all  at  once  a  rocket  shot  upward,  appar- 
ently from  the  very  depths  of  the  sea,  and  exploded 
above  the  masts  of  the  largest  vessel. 

An  oath  fell  from  Powell's  lips  as  the  rocket  burst. 

"  Discovered  !  Now  we're  in  for  it !"  he  said  with 
compressed  lips. 

The  Federal  signal  told  him  that  they  had,  indeed, 
reached  the  most  dangerous  part  of  the  voyage. 

A  minute  later  several  responsive  rockets  soared 
heavenward,  revealing  the  position  of  as  many  Union 
blockaders  to  the  captain. 


18  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"Go   ahead   full   speed,  cap'n,"    said   Foulweather 

Tom. 

Powell  returned  to  the  center  of  the  bridge  and 
signalled  the  engineer. 

The  Foxhound,  which  for  some  time  had  been  run- 
ning at  half-speed,  now  bounded  forward,  like  her 
namesake,  after  a  quarry. 

"  Steady  a-starboard  !"  whispered  the  pilot,  and  the 
word  was  instantly  passed  to  the  man  at  the  wheel. 

The  words  had  scarcely  left  his  mouth  ere  the  flash 
of  a  cannon  lit  up  a  part  of  the  sea  for  a  moment,  and 
a  shot  tore  across  the  Foxhound's  deck,  carrying  a 
piece  of  the  taffrail  into  the  sea. 

"  That  Yankee  gunner  must  have  the  e^^es  of  an 
owl !"  said  Powell,  amazed  at  the  shot.  "The  next 
one  will  pierce  our  counter,  and  the  next  tear  through 
our  boiler-room." 

Lights  seemed  to  be  flashing  on  every  side,  but  dark- 
ness still  enveloped  the  blockade  runner. 

Her  crew  knew  the  danger  and  swarmed  hej:"  deck, 
but  not  a  loud  word  was  spoken. 

Hard  upon  the  first  shot  from  the  Union  fleet  came 
another  and  another,  only  one  of  which  took  effect, 
with  a  crash  of  splintering  wood,  in  the  hull  of  the 
steamer. 

"  Hard  a-starboard  !"  said  Foulweather  Tom. 

"  Hard  down  she  is,"  came  back  the  word. 

Another  bright  flash  and  another  shot  tore  a  jagged 
piece  out  of  the  mizzen-mast. 

Evidently  the  Union  gunners,  in  spite  of  the  rough 
sea,  which  rendered  an  accurate  aim  almost  impossible, 
were  well  up  in  their  line  of  work. 

Things    were  getting    decidedly    warm,    but    the 


TEE  BLOCKADE  BUNIf^EB.  19 

steamer  was  drawing  inside  the  line  of  blockaders  fast ; 
but  she  was  liable  to  be  disabled  before  she  succeeded 
in  getting  out  of  range. 

Captain  Powell  stood  with  hands  clinched  and  a  face 
reddened  by  madness. 

Presently  a  broadside  was  fired  from  a  point  where 
no  vessel  had  yet  been  seen,  and  the  iron  balls  tore 
like  hail  across  the  Foxhound's  deck,  killing  two  sailors 
and  knocking  the  smokestack  away. 

Gun  after  gun  now  opened  on  the  devoted  little 
blockade  runner;  but  the  man  at  the  helm  did  his 
duty,  and  the  ship  kept  on  regardless  of  the  iron 
shower. 

It  was  now  a  race  for  life,  and  every  minute  was 
that  much  precious  time. 

Bentham,  the  young  passenger,  had  not  left  his  post 
for  a  moment. 

He  stood  erect  like  a  person  without  Jear,  watching 
the  flash  of  the^  Federal  guns  with  the  utmost  non- 
chalance imaginable. 

Foul  weather  Tom  had  reached  a  pathway  leading 
straight  to  port ;"  but  the  Union  fleet  seemed  deter- 
mined to  sink  him  outside  the  bar. 

"  Look  yonder,"  exclaimed  Powell.  "  Do  you  see 
that  gunboat?  They  are  going  to  get  between  us  and 
the  shoals.  There !  there  is  a  mountain  of  iron 
straight  ahead !  I  guess  the  days  of  the  Foxhound 
are  numbered.  Well,  if  it  comes  to  the  worst,  I  know 
what  to  do.  If  I  cannot  escape  I  will  keep  my  oath. 
I  will  reach  port  or  perish !" 

Powell  had  scarcely  finished  ere  the  flash  of  a  heavy 
gun  illuminated  a  point  dead  ahead,  and  a  shot 
hummed  across   the   deck    fore-and-aft,   so  near   the 


20  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

skipper's  bead  that  he  fairly  staggered,  and  grasped  the 
rail  of  the  bridge  to  save  himself, 

"  We're  done  for !"  he  exclaimed  wildly.  "  But 
they  shan't  take  me.     I'll  go  to  the  bottom  first!" 

With  a  bound  Powell  sprang  to  the  deck  and  rushed 
below. 

"  Hard  a-port !"  screamed  the  pilot. 

"  What  does  the  cap'n  mean  ?"  Benthara  said  to 
the  pilot. 

"  Dunno,"  replied  Foulweather  Tom.^  "  What  did  he 
say  ?" 

"  Swore  all  was  up,  and  that  he'd  send  the  Fox- 
hound to  the  bottom  before  he'd  be  taken." 

"  Then  for  God's  sake  follow  and  stop  him  !"  ex- 
claimed the  man.  "  We  carry  a  torpedo  in  the  hold^ 
and  a  fuse  runs  to  the  cap'n's  stateroom.  The  skipper 
is  stark,  staring  mad !  All's  not  lost  yet.  Stop  him 
quick,  or  we  shall  all  be  sent  to  Davy  Jones  in  a  flash." 

"  Great  heavens !"  exclaimed  Bentham,  his  cheek 
paling  at  the  awful  possibility.  "  He  is  mad,  surely. 
He  must  not  be  permitted  to  carry  out  his  fearful 
purpose." 

The  next  minute  he  was  descending  the  companion- 
way  after  the  reckless  captain. 

It  was  a  moment  big  with  the  fate  of  the  noble 
vessel  and  fifty  valuable  lives. 

The  swing  of  the  vessel  as  she  rolled  to  the  boiling 
seas  threw  Bentham  forward  on  his  hands  and  knees 
upon  the  cabin  floor. 

He  sprang  to  his  feet  and  looked  about. 

There  was  no  sign  of  Captain  Powell. 

His  stateroom  door  was  ajar,  however,  and  the  pas* 
senger  ran  to  it  and  pushed  it  open. 


THE  BL  OVKADE  R  UMNEE.  2 1 

The  sight  he  saw  he  felt  he  never  would  forget. 

The  skipper  crouched  on  the  deck  with  a  lighted 
lantern  in  front  of  hini,  the  slide  open. 

In  his  hand  he  held  one  end  of  a  dark-looking  snake- 
like rope,  which  issued  from  beneath  his  berth. 

He  was  unraveling  a  bit  of  yarn  which  protected 
the  end  of  the  fuse,  preparatory  to  applying  the  candle- 
light. 

Crash! 

A  round  shot  came  tearing  through  the  vessel's  side, 
dashing  the  lantern  into  a  hundred  fractures,  and  rip- 
ping a  great  hole  in  the  woodwork  in  its  course 
athwart  the  deck,  smashing  thing's  generally  in  the 
cabin  beyond,  and  shattering  an  exit  to  the  sea. 

Powell,  wrapped  in  sudden  darkness,  uttered  a  fear- 
ful oath. 

Bentham  stood  back  aghast. 

He  could  feel  the  tremble  of  the  deck  from  the 
rapid  throb  of  the  engines,  for  the  Foxhound  was 
driving  ahead  at  her  utmost  speed,  the  firemen  below 
piling  on  tar  and  rosin,  until  the  pitching  and  rolling 
fabric  shook  as  with  the  ague. 

It  was  an  awful  moment. 

The  huge  waves  thundered  against  the  steamer's 
sides  as  if  determined  to  hinder  her  escape  from  the 
lawful  guardians  of  the  port. 

The  wind  whistled  down  the  cabin  stairs,  and  a  hun- 
dred odd  noises  added  to  the  tumult  of  the  hour. 

Bentham  saw  the  flash  of  a  match  in  the  darkness, 
and  the  captain's  face,  looking  fairly  demoniacal,  was 
lit  up  by  the  illumination. 

Only  for  a  moment,  then  a  draught  of  cold  air 
through  the  shot-hole  extinguished  the  flame. 


22  THM  BLOCKADE  RTrNNEB. 

Another  curse  from  the  skipper,  followed  almost  im- 
mediately  by  a  fearful  crash  on  deck. 

Another  solid  shot  had  taken  effect,  but  the  vessel's 
speed  was  unchecked. 

The  frenzied  captain  struck  another  match,  but  like 
the  first  it  puffed  out. 

As  he  struck  the  third,  Bentham  stepped  forward 
and  took  him  by  the  shoulder. 

The  match  fell  and  was  extinguished,  while  Powell 
sprang  to  his  feet. 

The  two  men  faced  each  other  in  utter  gloom. 

"Who  are  you?"  demanded  the  skipper  with  an 
imprecation. 

"Bentham." 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?" 

"To  save  you  from  a  crime." 

"  Curse  you,  what  do  you  mean  ?" 

"  I  mean  that  I  have  just  learned  of  the  existence  of 
a  torpedo  in  the  hold  of  this  steamer,  and  of  your  pur- 
pose to  fire  it  sooner  than  surrender  to  the  cruisers. 
You  are  mad,  cap'n  !" 

"  How  dare  you  dictate  to  me  I" 

"  You  must  not  destroy  this  vessel." 

"  Must  not  ?"  hissed  Powell. 

"Must  not!"  said  Bentham  calmly.  "We  are  not 
yet  stopped.  Escape  is  still  possible.  We  are  almost 
over  the  bar.  Your  pilot  will  take  her  in,  if  there  be 
the  ghost  of  a  chance." 

"  We  are  doomed,"  yelled  the  skipper,  "  and  I'm 
going  to  rob  the  Yankees  of  their  prey.  Their  flag 
shall  never  float  over  the  Foxhound.  I  have  sworn  it, 
and  mean  to  keep  my  oath !" 

"  You  are  beside  yourself,  man,"  said  Bentham. 
"  We  are  not  yet  disabled." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  23 

"  Hark !  Do  3'^ou  hear  that  V  cried  Powell,  as 
another  shot  smashed  the  cabin  bulkhead. 

"  Well,"  said  his  passenger  coolly,  "let  them  sink  us 
if  they  can.  We  shall  then  go  to  the  bottom  without 
the  aid  of  your  infernal  machine.  If  you  were  caln:?" 
"^ou'd  know  they  can  never  board  us  in  this  sea.  \'^ 
the  machinery  is  hit,  we  shall  drift  ashore  and  go  to 
pieces.     In  no  case  will  the  gunboats  take  possession." 

The  passenger's  logic  was  undeniable,  but  Powell 
had  only  one  idea  in  his  brain,  and  was  deaf  to  rod- 
son  or  entreaty. 

He  had  sworn  to  blow  the  Foxhound  to  atoms  somj 
da}',  and  the  mania  was  in  complete  control  of  his 
senses. 

"You  are  insane,  cap'n,  and  I  will  not  permit  you 
to  execute  your  project." 

With  an  oath  Powell  sprang  upon  his  passengec, 
and  an  awful  struggle  in  the  dark  ensued. 


24  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE   FOXHOUND  AKKIVES    IN    PORT. 

Bentham  was  a  wiry,  athletic  young  fellow,  but 
Powell  was  a  man  of  powerful  physique,  and  was  more- 
over actuated  by  a  desperate  resolve. 

The  passenger  went  down  under  the  fierce  assault, 
and  he  felt  the  skipper  grappling  for  his  throat. 

The  young  fellow  exerted  all  his  strength,  and  by  a 
quick  movement  rolled  the  captain  over  and  straddled 
him. 

Then  he  had  his  hands  full  trying  to  keep  his  as- 
sailant under. 

The  struggle  continued  several  moments,  with  a 
fearful  exertion  of  muscle  and  determination  on  the 
part  of  each,  but  Bentham  succeeded  in  maintaining 
his  advantage. 

At  last  the' captain  desisted  and  remained  passive. 

Evidently  he  was  gathering  his  breath  and  energies 
for  a  fresh  attempt  to  displace  his  adversary. 

"  Why  can't  you  be  sensible,  Powell  ?"  said  Bentham, 
puffing  out  the  words.  "  Don't  you  see  we're  still 
under  way.  Not  a  shot  has  struck  us  in  the  last  five 
minutes.  If  you  go  on  deck  I'll  bet  you'll  find  us  in 
the  beach  channel,  running  up  under  the  guns  of  Fort 
Caswell." 

Powell  made  no  reply. 

"  Look  here.     I've  a  revolver  in  my  hand  now.     if 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  25 

you  don't  give  up  this  insane  freak  of  yours  ttiere'll  be 
blood  shed." 

At  that  instant  a  sailor  flashed  a  lantern  into  the 
stateroom,  and  Captain  Powell  saw  the  gleam  of  a 
pistol  barrel,  and  the  stern  realization  seemed  to  bring 
him  to  his  senses. 

"  Let  me  up  !"  he  growled. 

"Will  you  go  on  deck  if  I  do?" 

"Yes — darn  you;  since  you've  got  the  drop  on  me. 
I  can't  help  myself." 

Bentham  released  the  prostrate  skipper. 

"  Give  me  that  lantern,"  said  the  young  man  to  the 
sailor.     "How  are  things  on  deck?" 

"  We're  in  the  channel,  sir." 

"  And  the  gunboats  ?" 

"  Astern  and  out  of  range,  sir.'* 

"  Then  we're  safe  ?" 

"  Ay,  ay  ;  so  the  pilot  says." 

"What  have  you  got  to  say,  Captain  Powell?"  said 
Bentham. 

"  What  !■"  exclaimed  the  skipper,  who  had  regained 
his  mental  equilibrium  ;  "  why,  that  you've  saved  the 
steamer,  my  boy,  and  there's  my  hand  on  it." 

They  clasped  hands  heartily. 

"The  pilot  sent  rae  below  to  find  y.ou,  sir,"' said  the 
seaman  to  his  superior. 

"  All  right,  Ducks,  tell  him  Pll  be  up  in  a  jiffy." 

The  sailor  hurried  away. 

"Allow  me  to  say,  Bentham,  that  you're  a  brick. 
Your  intrepidity  has  saved  vessel,  crew  and  cargv:) 
from  certain  destruction.  I  hope  you  w^ill  accept  to  v 
apology  for  my  rough  treatment.  I  was  not  real.^ 
conscious  of  anything  but  the  one  determination  -: 


Ze  THE  BLOCKABE  RUNNER. 

blow  this  craft  to  the  four  winds  of  heaven.  I've  had 
it  so  long  on  my  mind,  and  the  wind  of  that  cannon- 
ball  turned  my  head,  so  that  I  could  think  only  tliat 
the  time  had  arrived  for  putting  my  last  resource  into 
execution." 

'•  Say  no  more,  Captain  Powell." 

"  But  I  assure  you  I'm  heartily  ashamed  of  myself. 
How  came  you  to.learn  about  the  torpedo  ?  I  never  told 
you.'' 

"The  pilot " 

"Ay,  ay;  Foulweather  Tom  knows  all  about  it. 
Some  da}',  however,  I'll  be  obliged  to  carry  it  into  effect. 
You've  seen  the  legend  painted  over  the  cabin  door : 
'  This  steamer  will  never  be  taken  by  the  enemy.' 
That's  my  motto,  and  I  mean  to  stick  by  it.  Wouldn't 
the  Yankees  chaff  me  if  they  could  run  their  flag  up  to 
the  mizzen-peak  ?  Do  you  think  I  could  stand  that? 
Never  !" 

"  "Well,  sir,  you're  captain  and  part  owner  of  this 
craft,  and  are  in  a  position  to  do  as  it  pleases  you.;  but 
let  me  tell  you  that  such  a  project  as  j^ou  have  in  view 
IS,  in  my  opinion,  a  crime  of  the  first  magnitude.  Every 
man  who  ships  aboard  the  Foxhound  has  the  sword  of 
Damocles  suspended  above  his  head  with  a  very  slender 
thread.  It  is  simply  a  foolhardy  trick  to  destroy 
vessel  and  crew,  and  yourself,  too,  for  that  matter,  in 
order  to  carry  out  a  vainglorious  threat.  You'll  ex- 
cuse me.  Captain  Powell,  but  I  can't  help  telling  you 
what  I  think  of  your  method." 

"  I  shall  not  quarrel  with  your  opinion,  Bentham. 
You've  a  perfect  right  to  it.  The  people  of  Wilming- 
ton, however,  shall  know  that  you've  saved  three 
million  dollars'  worth  of  war  material  to  the  Corifed- 
enicy." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  i^ 

*'  1  beg  you  will  not  mention  it,  sir." 

**WJ3at!"  exclaimed  Powell,  incredulously  "  J^ot 
mention  it  2  Why,  man,  they'll  give  you  a  publio 
ovation !" 

"  I  prefer  not  to  have  the  notoriety." 

"  Do  you  really  mean  that?" 

"  I  do ;  and  I  request  as  a  favor  that  you  will  say 
nothing  about  my  agency  in  this  affair.  Remember, 
it  would  only  reflect  on  yourself." 

"  That's  so,"  admitted  Powell ;  "  I  didn't  think  of 
that.  I  won't  say  a  word,  then.  Hold  the  light  till 
I  put  the  fuse  away.     There  now,  we'll  go  on  deck." 

They  passed  from  the  stateroom  and  ascended  the 
stairs 

The  Foxhound  was  running  in  by  the  beach  channel, 
and  the  frowning  battlements  of  Fort  Caswell  could 
be  just  distinguished  off  the  starboard  bow  in  the 
gloom. 

Foulweather  Tom  was  on  the  bridge  and  had  just 
signalled  to  the  engine-room  to  reduce  speed,  for  the 
blockade  runner  was  out  of  danger  from  the  gunboats. 

They  had  ceased  tiring  and  were  steaming  off  shore, 
though  their  iron  hulls  were  no  longer  visible  to  the 
Foxhound's  people. 

"  Safe  at  last,  eh,  Tom  ?"  exclaimed  the  skipper, 
who  was  now  in  an  exhilarating  mood. 

"  I  see  you  thought  better  of  blowing  us  all  to  king- 
dom come,"  replied  the  pilot. 

"  If  I  failed  it  is  because  of  tne  interference  of  our 
passenger.  He  is  a  gallant  fellow,  and  deserves  the 
thanks  of  all  on  board,"  said  Powell,  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Ay,  ay  ;  I  believe  you,  sir,"  answered  Foulweather 
Tom. 


^B  TSE  BLOCKADE  BUNNER. 

All  at  once  there  was  a  concussion,  followed  by  a 
shiver  through  the  steamer  that  jarred  every  one  on 
board. 

"  We're  aground  !"  cried  Captain  Powell.  "  You've 
run  too  close  to  the  Middle  Ground,  Torn." 

The  pilot,  without  a  word,  sprang  to  the  center  of 
the  bridge  and  signalled  the  engineer  to  go  ahead  at 
full  speed ;  at  the  same  moment  a  great  wave  lifted 
the  Foxhound,  and  she  slid  forward  over  the  obstruc- 
tion into  deep  water  again. 

"The  sand  has  shifted  at  that  point,"  said  Foul- 
weather  Tom,  as  he  again  signalled  to  slow  down. 

Fifteen  minutes  more  and  the  distant  lights  of  Wil- 
mington hove  into  view. 

"  Ha !"  exclaimed  Powell  exultantl}^  "  yonder's  the 
city.  Bentham,  the  Confederacy  owes  you  a  debt  of 
gratitude.  If  you  had  not  shipped  with  us,  by  thun- 
der, we  would  all  have  been  food  for  the  fishes  at  this 
moment,  and  a  cargo  of  inestimable  value  would  be 
lying  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  What  an  infernal 
idiot  I  was !  Five  minutes  more  and  you  would  have 
been  too  late.     Next  time  111  look  before  I  leap." 

The  young  man  looked  very  thoughtful. 

Just  then  four  bells  were  struck  forward. 

Two  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  tempest  was  still  having  things  pretty  much  its 
own  way,  and  the  standing  rigging  of  the  vessel  was 
incrusted  with  icicles. 

The  mizzen-mast  had  been  shot  away,  leaving  only 
a  jagged  stump. 

The  taffrail  was  demolished  in  several  places  along 
the  quarter-deck. 

Half  of  the  smokestack  was  gone  and  the  balance 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  39 

above  deck  in  ruins,  so  that  the  black  smoke  blew 
shoreward  on  a  level  with  the  shattered  bulwarks. 

The  boats  at  the  davits  were  perfect  wrecks. 

Indeed,  the  Foxhound  had  been  terribly  cut  up,  and 
had  many  nasty-looking  shot-holes  in  her  hull. 

But  her  machinery  had  escaped  injury  ;  one  shot 
in  the  engine-room  would  most  likely  have  settled 
her  fate  for  good  and  all. 

Near  on  to  six  bells  the  blockade  runner  had  come 
to  anchor  close  in  shore,  ready  to  steam  up  to  her  dock 
after  sunrise. 

The  good  people  of  Wilmington  slept  in  ignorance 
of  the  arrival  of  a  cargo  of  precious  freight,  but  the 
newspapers  were  already  preparing  accounts  under 
flaring  headlines  of  her  wonderful  escape,  for  the 
news  had  been  long  since  telegraphed  from  Fort 
Gaswell,  and  reporters  had  flocked  down  the  bay  and 
boarded  her  almost  as  soon  as  the  night  lights  of  the 
city  sprang  into  view. 

By  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  Foxhound  was 
moored  to  her  dock,  and  a  large  crowd  was  already 
gathered  to  survey  the  ruin  wrought  by  the  Yankee 
gunners. 

By  this  time  the  news  of  her  arrival  and  thrilling 
experience  was  all  over  the  city,  and  a  stream  of  curi- 
osity seekers  and  patriotic  idlers  were  en  t'oute  for  the 
dock. 

The  scene  on  the  wharf  beggared  description. 

Men  shouted  and  danced  for  very  joy,  and  women 
waved  their  handkerchiefs  and  joined  their  voices  to 
the  loud  cheers  that  soared  skyward. 

The  city  bells  were  set  a-ringing,  and  whistles  were 
t<x)ted,  until  there  was  not  a  soul,  young  or  old,  in  the 


30  TEE  BLOCKADE  B  UNNER. 

city  but  knew  that  the  famous  Foxhound,  with  her 
equally  famous  skipper,  Powell,  had  arrived  all  the 
way  from  Cherbourg,  France,  with  a  valuable  cargo. 

Extras  sold  like  wildfire,  and  everybody  was  talk- 
ing to  somebody  else  on  the  streets,  whether  he  had 
ever  met  the  individual  before  or  not. 

Conventionalities  were  for  the  time  done  away  with, 
and  people  could  hardly  contain  themselves.    ^ 

After  breakfast,  Benthara  left  the  Foxhound  and 
elbowed  his  way  through  the  crowd,  an  object  of  envy 
to  the  men  and  admiration  to  the  women — for  every 
man  who  had  come  in  on  the  blockade  runner  was  a 
hero  in  the  eyes  of  the  enthusiastic  multitude. 

"  May  I  never  have  to  deal  with  another  mad- 
man like  Captain  Powell,"  he  said  to  himself.  "One 
of  these  days  he'll  blow  his  vessel  to  the  winds.  Well, 
I  know  one  man  who  won't  shed  tears  if  he  does,"  and 
the  young  stranger  smiled  to  himself.  "  I  didn't  do 
the  Union  a  service  when  I  saved  the  Foxhound's 
cargo.  I  was  looking  to  Bob  Bentham's  interest  just 
then.  I  didn't  relish  the  idea  of  going  starward  on  a 
piece  of  a  torpedo.  Yet  I  may  make  such  an  uncom- 
fortable trip  one  of  these  days,  if  I  take  a  hand  in  this 
war,  as  I  propose  doing.  The  city  does  look  a  bit 
changed  during  my  three  years'  absence.  However, 
that  doesn't  matter,  I  can  find  my  way  to  Uncle  Gor- 
don Mowbray's  without  any  difficulty ;  and  if  my 
plans  don't  miscarry  I  shall  soon  shake  the  Wilming- 
ton dust  from  my  shoes,  and  in  a  way  I  am  afraid 
won't  please  my  respected  relative." 

Just  then  he  was  approached  by  a  handsome  elderly 
gentleman,  in  faultless  attire,  and  with  iron  gray 
whiskers — a  person  whose  appearance  would  have  at 


TEE  BLOCKADE  EUNNER.  31 

once  established  his  position  in  life  as  one  of  wealth 
and  importance. 

"Welcome,  my  dear  boy!"  he  exclaimed,  grasping 
Bentham's  hand  with  great  cordiality.  "I  assure  you 
I'm  delighted  to  see  you  once  more  in  Wilmington. 
You've  come  with  great  eclat.  Your  name  is  in  the 
papers  as  a  distinguished  passenger  on  the  lucky  Fox- 
hound. Do  you  know,  Robert,  I'm  quite  proud  o\ 
you,  and  so  is  Norah." 

"Thank  you,  uncle;  you've  not  changed  a  bit 
unless  it  is  for  the  better,"  said  the  young  man. 

"  You  had  a  tight  squeeze  it  seems  getting  through 
the  Yankee  fleet,  this  morning.  Thank  fortune  that 
the  Foxhound's  star  is  still  in  the  ascendant. .  She'a 
had  so  many  escapes  since  she  started  into  the  trade 
that  I  verily  believe  old  Powell  has  the  devil's  owa 
luck.  A  cargo  worth  three  millions,  and  direct  from 
Europe,  too;  well,  well,  it's  certainly  a  wonderful 
record  even  for  the  Foxhound." 

"Yes,  uncle,  we  had  a  hard  run  for  it — and  at  one 
time  were  in  greater  peril  than  you  could  imagine." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,  my  dear  boy.  We've  been  look- 
ing for  you  these  two  weeks.  Norah  got  your  letter, 
saying  that  you  would  sail  in  the  Foxhound ;  but  we 
were  getting  nervous  lest  you  had  been  gobbled  up  by 
a  Yankee  cruiser.  By  Jove,  my  dear  boy,  you're  look- 
ing well,  and  you've  come  back  in  the  nick  of  time. 
The  South  needs  such  men  as  you  are  just  now." 

Bentham's  brow  darkened  at  the  last  sentence,  and 
be  avoided  the  speaker's  gaze. 

"  Here's  the  carriage.  I'll  send  the  man  back  for 
your  trunk.     Jump  in." 

Uncle  and  nephew  entered  the  family  vehicle  and 
drove  oflf  toward  the  fashionable  quarter  of  the  town. 


S^  THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNEH 


CHAPTER  IV. 

SHORT   BUT   SIGNIFICANT. 

Only  two  persons  of  all  the  crowd  on  the  wharf  fol- 
lowed the  movements  of  Mr.  Mowbray  and  Robert 
BenthgTm. 

One  was  a  dapper-looking  young  man  of  thirty, 
with  piercing  dark  eyes,  regular  features  that  might 
be  considered  handsome,  but  which  gave  some  evidence 
of  fashionable  dissipation. 

A  physiognomist  would  rather  have  distrusted  his 
face,  discerning  craft  and  dissimulation  in  every  line. 

His  chin  and  mouth  showed  dogged  resolution  and 
stubbornness. 

Altogether  it  could  not  be  termed  a  pleasing  coun- 
tenance, though  there  was  no  doubt  of  the  indications 
of  latent  energy  that  characterizes  a  successful  busi- 
ness man. 

He  was  known  to  his  intimates  as  Flash  Gilmor, 

His  companion  was  younger,  much  handsomer,  but 
weak  and  listless,  as  though  he  took  the  world  easy, 
and  possessed  no  other  care  than  the  negative  exertion 
necessary  to  amuse  the  passing  moment. 

"  You  saw  those  two  men  who  just  drove  off,  Jes- 
sup?"  said  Gilmor. 

"  Yes,  I  saw  them,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  recognized 
Mowbray,  of  course.  Everybody  knows  that  old 
Croesus." 


TEE  BLOGKADB  RUNNER.  33 

'^'  The  other  is  that  joung  nephew  of  his,  Bob 
Bentham." 

"  You  don't  say.  I've  heard  of  him.  Mowbray 
sent  him  to  France  to  complete  his  education.  That 
was  before  the  war.  His  father,  I  think,  left  liim 
quite  a  tot,  and  old  Croesus  is  his  guardian." 

"Yes.  1  thought  he'd  turn  up  in  Wilmington  just 
when  I  wanted  him  a  thousand  miles  awa3\  I  wish 
the  Yankee  fleet  had  sent  him  to  the  bottom  of  the 
sea," 

"  I  guess  you  must  hate  the  fellow  pretty  heartily  to 
wish  him  such  luck.     What  has  he  ever  done  to  you?" 

Flash  Gilmor  glared  a  moment  after  the  carriage. 

"His  presence  here  is  a  menace  to  my  happiness." 

"  In  what  respect,  my  dear  fellow  ?"  said  Jessup. 

"Well,  it's  no  great  secret  that  I'm  infatuated  with 
Miss  Mowbray,  the  old  gentleman's  ward.  She'll  be 
a  great  heiress  in  time,  and  besides  is  a  deuced  pretty 
girl.  She's  got  a  pair  of  eyes  that  would  turn  any 
fellow's  heart,  and  the  figure  of  a  Venus.  But  her 
chief  recommendation  is  her  expectations.  Old  Mow- 
bray is  well  fixed,  and  I  know  she'll  come  in  for  the 
bulk  of  his  estate  one  of  these  days.  Moneys  talks 
every  time — especially  these  times  when  gold  is  get- 
ting so  devilish  scarce  that  a  fellow  is  in  danger  of 
forgetting  what  a  double-eagle  looks  like." 

"Ah,  very  true;  these  Confederate  shinplasters  have 
a  fluctuating  and  uncertain  value,  I  observe,  and  a  man 
handles  them  quite  gingerly,"  remarked  Jessup  with  a 
laz}'^  drawl,  as  though  the  financial  outlook  was  rather 
a  bore  to  him. 

"  Well,  to  cut  this  subject  short.  Bob  Bentham  has 
an  eye  in  the  same  quarter  himself.      She  was  sixteen 


g4  TEE  BLOGKADA  RUNNER. 

when  he  went  away  to  Europe,  and  as  his  position  as 
a  member  of  the  family  brouglit  him  continually  into 
her  society,  I  am  certain  he  was  impressed,  as  any 
young  man  would  be  under  the  circumstances.  If 
that  were  the  case  three  years  ago,  just  fancy  the 
effect  on  this  young  absentee  of  the  full  developed 
charms  of  one  of  the  most  charming  women  in  the 
world.  Why,  man  alive,  it  will  be  a  clear  case  of  love 
at  first  sight.  As  he  is  certain  to  be  backed  up  by 
her  father,  who  thinks  there  is  no  one  like  his  nephew 
Bob,  where  in  old  Nick  do  I  come  in?" 

This  was  too  much  of  a  poser  for  the  fallow  brain 
of  the  easy-going  Mr.  Jessup  to  tackle,  so  he  said 
nothing  but  sucked  the  end  of  his  gold-mounted  cane 
assiduously,  possibly  hoping  to  find  an  inspiration  by 
that  recreation. 

"You  perceive  how  much  of  a  drawback  to  me  is 
this  young  fellow's  advent  in  Wilmington  just  at  the 
important  time  when  I  had  begun  to  flatter  myself 
that  I  was  making  some  progress  with  Miss  Mowbray." 

Mr.  Jessup  nodded  wisely,  still  fondling  his  cane 
with  his  lips. 

"  I've  not  the  least  doubt  Bentham  will  offer  his 
services  to  the  Confederacy,  and  Mowbray  has  suf- 
ficient  influence  to  obtain  for  hira  an  important  Com- 
mission. I  am  not  sure  but  he  may  go,  to  sea  in  the 
privateer  Swiftwing." 

•  "  The  vessel  to  which  you  hold  the  appointment  as 
second  officer,  eh  ?"  said  Mr.  Jessup,  removing  his  cane 
for  a  moment. 

"The  same  ;  though  between  you  and  I,  Jessup,  and 
mind  you  keep  mum  about  it,  I  fancy  Flash  Gilmor 
will  be  conspicuous  by  his  absence." 


THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNEB.  $5 

"  You  don't  say  ?"  exclaimed  Mr.  Jessup,  with  a  sort 
of  mild  surprise. 

"I  only  hope  the  fellow  does  go  to  sea  in  the  Swift- 
wing.'' 

"  Pray  why  ?  To  be  shot  or  taken  by  the  un- 
gentlemanly  Yankees,  I  suppose." 

"  Yes,  of  course  ;  and  for  another  reason  also,''  said 
Gilmor  mysteriously.  . 

"  Indeed !     What  is  the  other  reason  ?" 

"That's  a  secret  at  present.  I  can  only  hint  to  you 
that  he's  not  very  likely  to  come  back  to  trouble  one 
if  he  does  go  in  that  vessel." 

"  Oh !"  said  Mr.  Jessup,  opening  his  eyes,  and  then 
returning  the  knob  of  the  cane  to  his  lips. 

"We'll  drop  the  subject,  if  you  please,  now.  I'm 
going  up  to  Bardolph  Bros.  You  can  go  as  far  as  the 
counting-room  door,  as  it's  not  out  of  your  way." 

"  Who  are  Bardolph  Bros.,  Flash  ?"  said  Mr.  Jessup, 
as  the  pair  left  the  wharf. 

"  They  are  the  owners  of  the  steamer  Swiftwing." 


36  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 


CHAPTER  V,    . 

UNCLE    AND    NEPHEW. 

"Here  is  the  old  house,  Robert,"  said  Mr.  Mowbray 
to  his  nephew  as  the  carriage  turned  into  an  elegant 
drive  leading  up  to  a  fine  residence,  fronted  by  grand 
trees,  which  through  the  day  threw  around  a  pleasing 
shade.  "  I  need  not  announce  your  arrival  to  Norah," 
he  continued,  "  for  the  papers  have  told  her  of  the 
Foxhound's  return,  and  she  has  expected  you  on  that 
steamer." 

Mowbray  had  hardly  finished  when  the  front  door 
of  the  mansion  opened,  and  the  graceful  figure  of  a 
young  woman  appeared  on  the  threshold. 

"  It  is  Norah  !"  whispered  Mowbray,  i  "  See  if  she 
will  recognize  you." 

The  next  moment  the  person  in  the  doorway 
sprung  airily  toward  the  two  men. 

"  The  Foxhound  brought  him,  I  see,"  she  said,  glan- 
cing at  Mowbray  as  she  held  out  her  hands  to  the 
young  man.  "Welcome — welcome  to  the  old  home, 
Robert.  The  three  years  have  been  three  ages ;  but 
the  last  one  has  ended  at  last." 

The  lighting  up  of  Benthara's  eyes  told  how  this 
reception  pleased  him,  and  a  thrill  of  delight  shot 
through  his  heart  while  he  held  the  girl's  hands  in 
his,  and  gazed  into  her  deep,  honest  eyes. 

Still  holding  one  of  her  hands,  he  passed  into  the 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  37 

house  whose  threshold  he  had  not  crossed  for  three 
years. 

Gordon  Mowbray  was  a  widower.  His  wife  left 
hira  childless  when  she  died,  but  the  girl,  Norah, 
whom  he  had  adopted,  was  the  light  of  his  elegant 
home.  He  loved  her  with  the  affection  of  a  fatlier, 
and  we  need  not  say  that  his  love  was  returned. 

Everybody  knew  that  Norah  was  not  his  child,  but 
few  knew  that  her  true  name  was  Norah  Narcross, 
for  she  was  everywhere  known  as  ISTorah  Mowbray,  a 
name  which  had  been  given  her  by  common  consent. 

When  Robert  Bentham  went  to  the  continent  fur 
the  purpose  of  completing  his  education,  he  left  Norah 
a  beautiful  girl  of  sixteen,  one  of  the  belles  of  Wil- 
mington, and  a  lass  with  the  purest  of  hearts. 

His  home-coming,  for  Gordon  Mowbray's  house  was 
really  his  home,  his  parents  being  dead,  found  her  a 
woman  of  nineteen  arraj'^ed  in  the  garments  of  a  riper 
beauty,  with  a  deeper,  softer  blue  in  her  ej^es  and  the 
carriage  of  a  queen. 

He  stood  in  the  presence  of  a  woman  fairer  than 
an}^  he  had  seen  in  France. 

"  You  must  have  had  an  exciting  time  coming  in," 
said  Norah,  when  young  Bentham  had  taken  a  seat  ut 
her  side  in  the  parlor. 

"  No  doubt  of  that,"  answered  Bentham.  "  We 
were  hotW  chased  and  badly  cut  up  by  cannon-shot, 
but  fortunately  we  possessed  the  best  of  pilots,  anil  I 
am  here,  and  not  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea." 

"  For  which  we  are  truly  thankful,  my  boy,"  said 
Mowbra}' himself  at  this  juncture.  "The  Foxhound's 
cargo  is  one  sorely  needed  at  this  time  by  the  South. 
Several  regiments  are  awaiting  arms,  and  we  can  now 


38  THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNEB. 

send  them  to  the  field.  Of  course  you  have  kept 
track  of  the  war  ?" 

''As  well  as  I  could,"  answered  Bentham,  "I 
learned  a  good  deal  from  Captain  Powell  during  the 
voyage  over." 

"  How  do  they  regard  our  cause  in  France  ?"  in- 
quired Mr.  Mowbray. 

''I  heard  the  war  frequently  discussed,"  was  the 
young  man's  evasive  answer. 

"  What  do  they  say  over  there  about  recognition  ?" 
asked  Mowbray  pointedly. 

"  One  party  in  France  favors  it " 

''  The  party  nearest  the  throne  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  it  will  come.  Louis  Napoleon  wants  a  foot- 
hold in  Mexico;  we  all  know  that,  and  he  knows  on 
which  side  his  bread's  buttered.  He  will  take  the 
initiative  step,  then  England  will  come  handsomely  to 
our  rescue,  and  the  war  will  speedily  close." 

"  Are  these  not  air-castles,  uncle  ?"  asked  Bentham 
seriously,  and  in  a  tone  that  riveted  the  gaze  of  his 
two  auditors  upon  him. 

"  How  so,  sir?" 

"  Do  you  not  underrate  the  resources — the  courage 
of  the  North  ?" 

"I  think  no,t,"  was  the  quick  and  haughty  reply. 
"We know  what  the  Yankee  soldiers  are.  They  have 
been  tried.     You  have  read  of  the  rout  atBuUEun?" 

"  I  have,"  said  Bentham,  coloring  slightly ;  "  and 
1  know  that  the  defeat  of  their  army  there  is  a  blow 
which  the  Federals  cannot  conceal.  But  do  we  not 
judge  them  hastily  ?  We  have  just  finished  the  first 
vear  of  the  war." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  39 

It  was  evident  that  Bentharn  looked  for  Mowbray 
to  continue  the  argument ;  but,  instead  of  doing  so,  he 
threw  a  secret  glance  at  Norah  which  sent  her  from 
the  room. 

"  Robert,  what  means  your  defense  of  the  North  ?" 
he  asked,  moving  his  chair  nearer  to  his  nephew,  whom 
he  looked  squarely  in  the  face.  "  I  am  shocked  to 
hear  such  words  from  you.  Why,  sir,  I  have  obtained 
for  you  the  second  command  on  board  the  new  privateer 
Swift  wing,  which  is  almost  ready  to  sail  from  Wil- 
mington on  her  mission  of  destruction.  Explain 
yourself.  Have  you  come  back  tainted  with  Yankee 
sentiments  ?" 

"  I  will  be  frank  with  you,  uncle,"  said  Bentharn 
calml\^  "  I  came  to  Wilmington  to  see  you  and 
Norah,  not  to  serve  the  Confederacy,  for  my  heart  is 
not  with  it.  You  seem  to  forget  that  my  father  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  government  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  If  he  had  lived,  he  would  have  taken  his  stand 
for  the  Union.  His  son  must  not  turn  from  the  prin- 
ciples he  espoused,  nor  from  the  flag  he  carried  at  his 
masthead.  The  Confederacy,  if  it  succeeds,  must  do 
so  without  me.  I  shall  leave  Wilmington  soon  for  the 
North." 

"  Where  you  will  offer  your  services  to  the  Federal 
government  V 

Mowbray's  words  -was  a  menace. 

"  Perhaps,"  was  the  answer.  "  I  shall  follow  my 
own  inclination." 

A  cloud  of  anger  darkened  the  Southerner's  face. 

"  After  all  I  have  done  for  vou  since  your  father's 
death !"  he  exclaimed,  springing  up  in  a  spasm  of  rage, 
while  his  eyes  flashed  fire  at  the  strangely  calm  young 


^0  TEE  BLOCKADJi  RUNNER. 

I  um.  "  Yes^  after  all  I  have  paid  for  3^our  schooling, 
vou  turn  and  sting  the  bosom  that  warmed  you!.  Un- 
grateful boy!  Bid  I  send  you  to  the^continent  to  be 
tliorougiily  educated  in  gunnery  in  order  that  you 
inigiit  train  cannon  against  the  South  some  day  ?  No  ! 
;i  thousand  times  no  !" 

"  I  am  sorry,  uncle,  that  we  disagree  on  so  vital  a 
sui)ject.  1  do  not  wish  to  antagonize  you,  and  that, 
too  on  the  vefy  day  of  my  arrival ;  but  it  is  impossible 
for  me  to  render  any  service  to  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy as  my  feelings  now  stand." 

"May  I  ask,  sir,  who  has  contaminated  those  prin- 
ciples on  which  I  have  relied  ?  Wei'e  you  not  born  in 
Wilmington  ?  Are  you  not  a  true  Southerner,  bod}'  and 
soul,  sir?  What  is  the  meaning  of  this  change  ?  Am 
I  to  see  my  own  brother's  child — my  own  flesh  and 
blood — turn  traitor  to  the  cause  which  should  be  near- 
est his  heart  ?" 

'*  No  one  has  influenced  my  decision,  sir.  The  prin- 
ciples I  avow  to  you  originated  solely  with  mj^self. 
I  do  not  agree  with  the  stand  taken  by  the  South.  I 
think  the  issues  involved  should  have  been  settled  by 
arbitration  and  not  by  a  recourse  to  arms.  I  do  not 
wish,  you  to  infer  that  I  think  our  people  are  wholly 
wrong,  or  that  the  national  government  is  entirely 
right.  That  were  too  complex  a  subject  for  you  and 
J,  uncle,  to  argue  upon  just  now.  We  held  better  drop 
tlie  matter  here,  lest  it  lead  to  a  quarrel,  which  I  cer- 
tainly do  not  desire." 

"Why  con " 

"  Pray  restrain  j^ourself,  uncle.  Remember,  you  are 
mv  guardian  and  my  father's  brother.  My  love  and 
respect  are  yours,  and  ever  will  be  ;  but  do  not  ask  me 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  H 

to  act  contrary  to  my  inclination.  I  could  not  do  t!  it 
even  to  please  you." 

"You  are  an  ungrateful  cub,  sir!"  exclaimed  .  .j 
irate  Southerner. 

"  I  suppose  I  am  an^'thing  you  are  pleased  to  cril 
me.  But  one  moment  just  liere,"  said  the  youni^  i'A- 
low  seriously.  "You  have  mentioned  the  expei;  i 
connected  with  my  foreign  schooling.  I  am  readv  : j 
return  them  with  interest.  During  my  sojourn  on  the 
continent  I  have  not  been  idle.  I  have  translated 
several  French  naval  books  into  English,  and  luy 
Amencan  publishers  have  allowed  me  enough  for  my 
trouble  to  cancel  all  my  obligations  to  you.  You 
know  that  my  schooling  in  this  country  came  out  of 
my  fathers  estate." 

Mowbray  was  dumfounded, 

Plis  look  became  a  stare  ;  he  seemed  to  recoil  fr<.ni 
his  nephew. 

"I  presume  I  am  to  understand  that  you  refuse  ti.j 
commission  1  have  secured  for  you  as  chief  officer  on 
the  privateer  Swiftwing  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  And  you  dare  insult  me  by  offering  to  reimbur;ie 
me  for  money  I  have  willingly  spent  on  your  behalf — 
money,  I  regret  to  sa}'-,  that  has  been  turned  against 
myself  and  the  cause  I  uphold  ?" 

"  I  should  prefer  not  to  be  under  any  obligation  to 
you,  uncle.  Pardon  me  if  1  say  this,  but  it  is  the 
family  pride,  and  therefore  a  part  of  my  established 
principles.     You  3'ourself,  sir,  taught  me  this." 

"I  did,  sir  ;  but  that  was  when  I  was  ignorant  that 
1  was  warming  a  viper  in  my  bosom." 

"  That  is  a  hard  word,  uncle." 


42  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"  But  not  more  than  3^our  conduct  deserves.  I  will 
accept  nothing  at  your  hands !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Mow- 
bray. "  You  have  blighted  my  brightest  hopes. 
Everywhere  during  the  last  six  months  I  have  sounded 
your  praise,  and  fame  has  opened  her  doors  to  you. 
All  Wilmington  has  been  waiting  for  you  with  an 
eagerness  almost  equal  to  my  own.  The  city  stands 
ready  to  welcome  you,  for  I  am  honored  here,  and 
there  are  many  people  who  remember  you.  But  all 
this  comes  to  an  end  !  I  must  go  out  with  a  lie  wither- 
ing on  my  lips.  I  must  write  to  the  government  at 
Richmond  that  Robert  Bentham,  from  whom  the  South 
was  expecting  so  much,  has  gone  over  to  the  Yankees !" 

It  was  a  painful  moment. 

Mowbray  played  well  the  role  of  a  proud  man 
crushed,  for  he  was  the  character  itself. 

"  A  man  should  listen  to  the  calls  of  duty,"  grated 
Mowbray,  starting  up  again.  "If  she  has  made  a 
traitor  out  of  yon,  obey  her  call.  Turn  the  cold 
shoulder  to  those  who  have  trusted  you — turn  your 
back  on  the  South,  and  forget  that  you  ever  trod  her 
sacred  soil.  Forget  Norah — for  I  swear  to  you,  young 
man,  that  the  girl  will  forget  3^ou !  You  know  Avhat 
I  told  you  when  you  went  away,  and  you  know  what 
I  have  been  looking  forward  to  with  pleasure.  You 
need  not  think  of  such  an  event  now.  J^orah  shall 
look  elsewhere  for  a  husband,  and  I  will  help  her  find 
one  in  a  man  who  has  not  deserted  the  South  in  the 
hour  of  need  !" 

Mowbray's  whole  frame  trembled  with  anger  as  be 
spoke. 

A  fearless  smile  played  at  the  corners  of  Bentham's 
mouth. 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  43 

He  was  still  the  man  who  had  followed  Captain 
Powell  to  the  cabin  of  the  Foxhound. 

"  Threats  shall  not  turn  me  from  ray  purpose,"  he 
said  calmly.  "  I  came  to  Wilmington  to  see  you  and 
Norah.  1  have  completed  my  mission,  though  I  did 
intend  to  remain  a  few  days  ;  but  since  I  am  looked 
upon  with  suspicion  and  unfriendliness  my  presence  is 
needed  no  longer  here." 

He  strode  toward  the  door  with  the  last  word  still 
on  his  lips, 

Mowbray  did  not  seek  to  stop  him. 

"  Remain  in  Wilmington  as  long  as  you  find  it  safe," 
he  said,  addressing  Bentham.  /  "  The  secret  of  your 
action  shall  not  escape  my  lips ;  but,  sir,  I  would 
advise  you  to  leave  the  city  as  soon  as  possible.  The 
people  would  mob  you  if  they  knew  your  sentiments. 
You  can  make  my  house  your  home  during  your  stay 
here." 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  compromise  you  in  any  manner," 
was  the  reply,  as  the  young  man  halted  for  a  moment 
at  the  door.  "I  shall  take  your  advice  and  leave 
Wilmington  at  the  first  opportunity.  Good-by,  Uncle 
Gordon." 

"  Good-by,  sir." 

Bentham  opened  the  door,  stepped  across  the  thresh- 
old, and  shut  the  portal  behind  him  ! 

Mowbray  was  alone. 

"  Great  heavens !  do  I  dream  ?"  he  exclaimed,  staring 
vacantly  at  the  place  lately  occupied  by  the  loyal  neph- 
ew. "  Can  it  be  that  he  has  gone  to  espouse  the  cause 
of  the  North — he,  my  sister's  child  ?  My  money  has 
educated  him  for  service  against  the  Confederacy! 
He  will  train  the  best  guns  in  the  Union  navy  on  our 


44  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNEE. 

ships  of  war !  The  stars  and  bars  will  be  riddled  h"^ 
bis  balls!  It  is  terrible — more  than  I  can  stand  !  He 
shall  be  detained,  even  if  I  bave  to  break  my  word. 
He  shall  not  fight  against  us.  By  Jove !  I  will 
force  him  to  accept  the  commission  I  have  procured 
for  him." 

Terribly  excited,  Mowbray  seized  his  hat  and  was 
about  to  rush  from  the  house,  when  a  door  opened  and 
Norah  glided  into  the  room. 

"  Why,  where  is  Robert  ?"  she  asked,  sending  a  look 
of  surprise  from  the  empty  chair  to  Mowbray. 
"  Supper  is  ready  for  him,  but " 

"  He  isn't  here  to  taste  my  food,  thank  heaven  !" 
interrupted  the  Southerner.  "  He  has  subsisted  too 
long  off  ray  bounty  already.  He  has  left  us  forever. 
Our  flag  is  not  his  flag.  He  has  gone  to  join  the 
Yankee  navy !" 

The  color  left  the  young  woman's  face  while  Mow- 
bray talked,  jerking  out  his  short  sentences  madly. 
When  he  finished  she  recoiled  from  him  as  pale  as 
death. 

"  Gone — so  soon !"  she  gasped,  looking  at  her 
guardian.     "  You  cannot  mean  that !" 

"  He  came  here"  to  cut  me  to  the  heart  with  his  in- 
fernal loyalty  to  what  he  styles  '  the  government !' " 
cried  Mowbray.  "  I  should  have  locked  the  door  on 
him  and  turned  him  over  to  the  Confederate  author- 
ities. I  was  a  fool  to  let  him  leave  the  house  at  will. 
By  Jove,  I  will  do  so  yet !" 

"  You  will  not^ " 

"  Listen  to  me,  child.  Robert  Benthara  is  a  traitor. 
He  is  no  longer  nephew  of  mine.  I  command  you  to 
forget  him !" 


THU;  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  45 

"  Forget,  Robert  ?     Father  you  do  not  mean  that." 
"  1   do   mean   it.     You    were  to  marry  him  if  j'ou 

both    came  to  the  understanding.     But  that  is  over. 

Kobert  Bentham  is  no  longer  anything  to   rae  or  to 

you .'" 

With  his  last  word  Mr.   Mowbray   hastily  left  the 

room  and  the  house,  while  Norah,  with  clasped  hands 

and  swimming  eyes,  sank  grief-stricken  on  a  chair. 


46  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

A    SHADY    TRANSACTION. 

When  Flash  Gilinor  presented  himself  at  the  shipping 
house  of  Messrs.  Bardolph  Bros.,  and  sent  in  his  card, 
he  was  immediately  ushered  into  the  private  office  of 
the  firm. 

"  Ah,  Gilraor,"  said  the  senior  Bardolph,  "  happy  to 
see  you.     Take  a  seat." 

Flash  acknowledged  the  salutation,  nodded  to  the 
junior  Mr.  Bardolph.  and  took  possession  of  the  third 
chair  in  the  room. 

"  I  presume,"  ventured  the  elder  Bardolph,  "  you 
have  called  in  relation  to  your  appointment  as  second 
officer  of  the  Swiftwing.     She  is  almost  ready  for  sea." 

"  Well,"  said  Flash  cautiously,  "  not  exactly.  The 
fact  ot  the  matter  is  I  have  decided  not  to  accept  the 
berth. 

Both  partners  looked  at  Gilmor  with  some  surprise, 
but  neither  made  any  reply  to  this  announcement, 
presuming  that  the  gentleman  would  offer  his  own 
explanation  unasked. 

"  May  I  ask,"  said  Gilmor  pointedly,  "  if  the  Swift- 
wing  is  not  for  sale  ?" 

Messrs.  Bardolph  exchanged  a  swift  glance,  and  then 
the  elder  gentleman,  stroking  his  smoothly  shaven  face, 
said  : 

"  Ahem !  I  will  not  deny  that  we  have  contem-^ 
plated  disposing  of  our  interest  in  the  privateer,  but 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNKR.  4? 

that  will  not  aflfect  any  arrangements  that  we  have 
entered  upon  with  yourself  or  others.  If  we  find  a 
purchaser  the  transfer  will  only  be  consummated  with 
that  distinct  understanding;"  and  the  speaker  smiled 
suavely. 

"  Mr.  Gilmor,"  said  the  junior  Bardolph,  •'  as  we 
hav«  not  generally  circulated  the  statement  of  our 
desire  to  part  with  the  Swiftwing — indeed  Ave  have 
not  yet  fully  decided  upon  that  point — would  you  ob- 
ject to  tellfng  us  from  what  source  you  obtained  your 
information  ?" 

"  It  is  immaterial,  I  think,"  said  Flash  significantly. 
"As  I  am  not  a  man  to  beat  about  the  bush  I  will  say 
that  1  am  full}'^  cognizant  of  your  reasons  for  wishing 
to  get  rid  of  an  undesirable  bit  of  property." 

"  Sir  !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Bardolph  senior. 

"  You  wish  me  to  be  more  .explicit  ?  Yery  well. 
When  I  accepted  your  offer  of  the  commission  appoint- 
ing me  to  the  privateer,  I  felt  it  to  be  my  duty  to 
make  a  thorough  examination  of  th«  craft  in  which  I 
was  to  risk  ray  precious  self,  you  understand." 

Messrs.  Bardolph  exchanged  looks  again. 

"  In  my  opinion,  and  my  experience  in  naval  archi- 
tecture is  of  some  value,  the  Swiftwing  is  not  the  craft 
I  should  care  to  sail  in." 

"Indeed,  sir,"  exclaimed  the  elder  Bardolph 
brusquely,  "  Captain  Powers,  whom  we  have  selected 
as  commander,  and  who  is  a  thorough  sailor  and 
officer,  does  not  take  such  a  view  of  the  vessel.  He 
told  me  that  he  considers  the  Swiftwing  an  admirable 
vessel  in  every  respect  for  the  purpose  in  view." 

"Captain  Powers  has  a  perfect  right  to  his  own 
view,  as  I  contend  I  have  to  mine.     Besides,  I  do  not 


4g  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

believe  the  gentleniau  has  taken   more  than  a  super 
iicial  look  at  the  steamer." 

"Excuse  me,  Mr.  Gihiior,  but  yoxxr  remarks,  to  say 
the  least,  hide  an  insinuation  that  reflects  upon  our 
bouse." 

'•  If  they  do,  it  is  your  own  fault,  Mr.  Bardolph.  A 
few  coats  of  paint,  a  new  stanchion  here  and  tiiere, 
and  a  profusion  of  fresh  gingerbread  work,  cover  a 
good  deal  of  rottenness  sometimes. 

The  elder  Bardolph  sprang  to  his  feet  with  an  ex- 
clamation of  rage. 

"■  Did  you  come  here,  sir,  to  insult  us  ?" 

"  By  no  means,"  replied  Flash  Gi^anor  coolly;  "  what- 
ever arraignment  I  make  of  the  delinquencies  of  the 
Swift  wing  could  not  possibly  insult  you,  seeing  that 
it  is  the  truth  and  was  deliberately  carried  out  by  you 
for  a  purpose." 

"Purpose,  sir!"  cried  the  senior  Bardolph,  quite 
purple  in  the  face. 

"  I  stand  to  the  word,"  said  Flash  ;  "  the  purpose  is 
apparent.  You  have  taken  a  floating  coffin,  regilded 
it,  and  propose  to  get  it  off  your  hands  at  a  high  figure, 
during  the  present  excitement." 

The  elder  Bardolph  sank  back  in  his  chair,  white 
and  speechless. 

His  rage  and  consternation  were  something  to 
witness. 

The  junior  member,  who  had  turned  several  coloi  j 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  interview,  seemed  to  have 
recovered  himself,  and  now  came  to  the  rescue. 

"  Yon  seem  to  have  made  a  very  complete  investiga- 
tion of  the  privateer." 

"1  have,  sir,"  acknowledged  Gilmor. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNEB,  49 

"  You  also  see  fit  to  charge  us  with  a  very  serious — 
crime." 

"  I  maintain  my  assertion." 

"  May  I  inquire  if  you  came  here  simply  for  the  soU 
purpose  of  telling  us  this  ?" 

"  That  depends." 

"On  what?" 

''Whether  you  admit  that  the  Swiftwing  was  pur- 
chased and  put  into  commission  with  the  avowed  un- 
derstanding of  parting  with  her." 

"  Suppose  we  do  not  admit  such  a  preposterous 
thing?" 

Gihnor  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"Let  us  understand  one  another,"  said  the  junior 
partner,  starting  on  a  new  line  of  action  ;  "  I  am  con- 
vinced 3'ou  came  here  with  an  object.  Now  'what 
is  it  ?" 

"  You  haven't  answered  my  question.  I  will  modify 
it,  however,  as  I  consider  it  none  of  my  business  to 
inquire  into  your  reasons.  Is  the  Swiftwing  for 
sale  ?" 

The  junior  member  hesitated  a  moment,  while  he 
seemed  to  pierce  his  questioner  through  and  through. 

At  length  he  said  : 

"  She  is." 

"  Thank  you.     What  is  your  price  ?" 

The  firm  again  exchanged  looks. 

"  Have  you  a  purchaser  ?"  inquired  young  Mr.  Bar- 
dolph. 

"  Not  exactly  ;  but  if  you  will  make  it  my  interest 
to  find  one  I  fancy  I  can  get  you  a  good  one." 

The  cat  was  out  of  the  bag  at  last,  and  the  Bardolph 
Brothers  each  gave  a  sigh  of  relief,  and  immediately  as 
guraed  a  friendly  footing  with  their  visitor. 


50  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"  "Why  couldn't  you  have  said  so  at  first  ?"  said  the 
elder  partner. 

"  Excuse  me  ;  I  had  my  reasons." 

"  Which  we  won't  discuss,"  said  the  junior  member 
quickly.  "If  Mr.  Gilmor  can  find  us  a  purchaser  for 
the  Swiftwing  I  am  sure  we  will  give  hira  a  very 
handsome  commission." 

"That  is  what  I  am  after,"  said  Flash  bluntly. 
"  Now  make  your  figure." 

The  firm  consulted  in  low  tones. 

"What  would  you  say  to  one  hundred  and  thirty 
thousand  dollars  ?"  suggested  the  junior  Mr.  Bardolph, 
with  a  faint  smile.  " 

"  I  should  say  it  was  a  pretty  figure  to  place  upon  a 
rotten  hulk,"  was  the  cool  rejoinder. 

Mr.  Bardolph  frowned. 

"  That  is  your  only  price  ?"  continued  Flash. 

"  We  won't  take  a  cent  less  than  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars,"  said  Mr.  Bardolph,  "  and  at  that  figure 
could  allow  no  commission.  If  you  will  try  for  one 
hundred  and  thirty  we  will  give  you,  in  the  event  that 
you  succeed  in  making  the  sale,  the  sum  of — ahem ! — 
twenty  thousand  dollars.  If  you  get  a  lower  price 
your  commission  will  be  proportionably  decreased." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Flash  Gilmor,  "  I'll  get  all  I  can." 

"Now,  Mr.  Gilmor,"  said  Mr.  Bardolph  junior,  "I 
think  I  voice  ray  brother's  thoughts,  as  well  as  my 
own,  when  I  say  that  it  seems  very  probable  you  have 
a  party  in  view  whom  you  believe  will  take  the  priva- 
teer at  the  stiff  valuation  we  have  put  upon  her.  Is 
it  not  so  ?" 

"  I  beg  you  will  excuse  me,  gentlemen.  I  have  a 
scheme  in  my  head  which  I  propose  to  work  upon ; 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  51 

beyond  stating  that  fact,  any  other  avowal  would  be 
premature.'' 

"  Oh,  that  is  all  right.  Go  about  this  matter  in 
your  own  waj',  of  course.  We  would  simply  suggest 
that  you  keep  the  transaction  as  quiet  as  possible.'' 

*'  I  shall  certainly  do  so." 

Mr.  Bardolph  junior  got  up  and  went  to  a  cupboard, 
from  which  he  produced  a  decanter  of  choice  wines, 
glasses,  and  a  plate  of  biscuits. 

"  Here's  to  the  success  of  your  undertaking,  Mr. 
Gilmor." 

The  sentiment  was  drank  w'*^.h  iuild  enthusiasm. 

"Twenty  thousand  dollars  is  not  to  be  picked  up 
every  day,"  said  the  junior  partner. 

"I  believe  you,"  said  Flash.  "At  least  not  by  the 
second  officer  of  even" a  smart  privateer." 

This  sally  provoked  a  hearty  laugh  from  the  two 
partners. 

"  There's  more  in  you  than  we  ever  suspected,"  said 
the  junior  Mr,  Bardolph. 

"  You  flatter  me,"  grinned  Flash.  "  By  the  way," 
he  continued,  "  when  this  transaction  leaks  out,  as  it 
is  bound  to  do,  by  and  by,  how  do  you  propose  to 
justify  3^ourselves  before  the  business  community?" 

"  Leave  that  to  us,  Mr.  Gilmor,"  said  the  younger 
Bardolph,  with  a  wink. 

"With  pleasure,  since  you  will  pocket  the  greater 
profit  by  the  arrangement ;  but  it  strikes  me  there 
will  be  explanations  in  order,  especially  as  the  com- 
missions, men,  supplies,  and  armament  come  from  the 
Confederate  government.  It  will  look  rather  queer, 
won't  it,  if  the  Swiftwing  founders  in  the  first  gale?" 

"  She  may  meet  a  Yankee  cruiser  before  that  con- 
tingency  happens,"  said  Bardolph  junior. 


52  THE  BLOCK  A  DE  RVNNER. 

"She  may;  but  this  is  the  stormy  season.  Now, 
frankly,  how  long  do  you  think  the  Swiftwing  will 
float  during  an  ordinary  blow?"  said  Flash,  grinning. 

"  That,  Mr.  Gilmor,  is  a  state  secret." 

A  broad  smile  was  exchanged,  and  the  interview 
ended  at  that  poinL 


THhi  BLOCK ADE  EOWJ!fEIi. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE    DUEL    AND   THE    ESCAPE. 

KoBERT  Bentham  had  marked  out  his  course  and 
was  determined  to  follow  it. 

He  did  not  like  to  leave  his  uncle's  house  without 
saying  good-by  to  Norah. 

He  might  see  the  girl  before  leaving  Wilmington  if 
his  exit  was  not  hastened  by  certain  events  not  unlikely 
to  occur,  and  he  was  sure  that  she  would  not  up- 
braid him  for  his  course  of  action. 

Her  letters  to  him  during  his  sojourn  in  France  had 
not  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy, 
and  he  had  not  given  her  any  insight  to  his  private 
feelings  or  sympathies, 

"  It  will  be  a  long  war,  uncle  sa3"s,"  she  wrote  him 
shortly  after  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities.  "They 
(the  Confederates)  have  torn  down  the  old  flag  which 
gladdened  our  eyes  so  long,  and  a  new  flag,  not  a  whit 
lovelier,  has  been  hoisted  in  its  place." 

Bentham  knew  that  Wilmington  would  prove  too 
hot  a  place  for  him  if  his  true  sentiments  became 
known  to  its  citizens,  and  he  resolved  to  depart  with- 
out delay. 

It  was  now  verging  on  to  midnight,  and  the  storm 
through  which  the  Foxhound  had  steamed  to  safety 
had  abated. 

A  number  of  people  still  remained  in  the  streets  dis- 
cussing the  arrival  of  the  blockade  runner  and  kindred 


54  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

topics,  but  no  one  seemed  to  notice  Benthara  as  he 
passed  along. 

He  was  proceeding  toward  tiie  wharf  at  a  smart 
pace,  when  he  was  touched  by  a  hand  before  he  was 
aware  that  any  one  was  near. 

There  was  something  that  smacked  of  arrest  in  that 
touch,  and  B^ntham's  hand  moved  toward  a  weapon 
as  he  turned. 

"  De  Lord  bress  you,  Massa  Bob  !"  exclaimed  a  coal- 
black  darky.  "  You'se  not  goin'  away  widout  sayin' 
good- by  to  old  Jupe,  is  you  ?" 

"Of  course  not,  Jupe,"  said  Bentham,  giving  the 
negro  his  hand ;  *'  but  who  told  you  I  was  going 
away  ?" 

"  I  couldn't  help  hearin'  yer  last  words  at  Massa 
Mowbray's,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  ain't  an  eavesdroppah, 
Bob,  but  I  happened  to  pass  de  window  just  den,  an'  I 
heard  a  few  words  dat  set  me  to  tinkin'.  Dar  war 
an  eavesproppah,  dough," 

"  An  eavesdropper  V  echoed  the  young  man  start- 
ing. 

•'  I  saw  'im  creep  away  jes'  as  I  came  up.  Ha — ha! 
de  brack  rascal  tink  I  didn't  know  'im !" 

"  Who  was  it,  Jupe  T 

"  Tom,  ob  course," 

"  One  of  Mowbray's  negroes  ?" 

"  Dat's  jes'  who  he  war.  He  am  de  nigger  what's 
goin'  to  sail  in  de  Swiftwing  with  de  young  Cap'n 
Powers  when  dey  git  ready.  Dat  Cap'n  Powers 
is  a  might}^  cute  chicken,  Massa  Bob.  Him  been 
comin'  mighty  often  to  Massa  Mowbray's  while 
you'se  been  away  ober  de  water.  He's  got  a  heap  ob 
business  wid  massa,  somehow  or  other.     I  tink  some- 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  55 

times  dat  him  got  his  eje  on  de  young  missus ;  but 
mebbe  you'se  got  de  best  claim  dar,  an'  so  hira  got  no 
show — yah  !  yah  !" 

Jupe's  last  sentence  set  Bentham  to  thinkii)g. 

He  knew  nothing  of  this  Captain  Powers  who  was 
to  command  the  new  privateer  almost  ready  to  sail. 

It  might  be  true,  as  the  negro  hinted,  that  he  had  a 
rival  for  Korah's  hand ;  but  what  kind  of  a  looking 
man  was  he,  and  was  he  really  a  rival  ? 

"  Look  hyer,  Massa  Bob,  I  didn't  stop  you  to  set  you 
tinkin'  dat  way,"  resumed  the  negro,  breaking  in  upon 
the  young  man's  meditations.  "If  you'se  goin'  to 
leave  Wilmington  dar's  no  time  to  be  lost,  fo'  dar's  no 
tellin'  who  dat  eavesdroppin'  nigger's  carried  his  news 
to.  He  tinks  de  world  ob  Cap'n  Powers,  b'lieves  jes' 
what  he  b'lieves,  an'  is  alius  huntin'  fo'  some  way  to 
serve  him.  I  don't  trust  dat  nigger,  Massa  Bob.  I 
hates  de  new  flag,  but  Tom  him  likes  it.  He  tole  me 
so  himself.'' 

Bentham  heard  the  darky  through. 

It  might  be  that  he  was  in  danger. 

What  was  to  be  done  ? 

He  was  forced  to  put  this  appeal  to  Jupe,  whom  he 
knew  could  be  trusted.     The  answer  was  not  delayed. 

"  You  must  git  to  de  Yankee  fleet !"  said  Jupe. 
"  De  storm  am  about  ober,  an'  de  ships  will  soon  be 
comin'  back  to  de  ole  stations.  I'se  watched  'era  so 
long  dat  I  know  just  whar  dey  will  be.  What's  de 
use  ob  stay  in'  hyer  a  minute  longer  dan  you  can  help, 
Massa  Bob  ?  Tom,  de  mean  nigger,  knows  jes'  whar 
to  find  Cap'n  Powers,  an' " 

"  We  will  go,"  said  Bentham,  unconsciously  speaking 
his  resolves  aloud.     "  I  long  to  train  some  loyal  cannon 


56  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

on  the  CoTiferate  navy.  My  mission  to  Wilnaington  is 
coDipleted.     Nothing  need  keep  nie  here." 

The  twain  turned  away  and  proceeded  at  a  rapid 
gait  toward  the  mouth  of  Cape  Fear  Eiver, 

Jupe  led  the  way  with  the  air  of  one  who  was  con- 
fident of  success,  and  ere  long,  just  beyond  the  confines 
of  the  city,  he  drew  a  strong  boat  from  beneath  the 
water,  and  looked  up  into  Beuthara's  face  with  a  grin 
of  satisfaction, 

"Ob  course  dis  yere  boat  wasn't  hyer  by  chance," 
said  the  negro.  "I  knowed  jes'  whar  to  find  it. 
Mebbe  I  war  savin'  it  fo'  an'  emergency  like  the 
present  one.     Anyhow,  it  am  jis'  de  help  we  want." 

Bentham  looked  over  his  shoulder  at  the  lights  of 
Wilmington,  and  thought  of  the  people  he  was  leaving 
behind. 

His  mind  went  back  to  beautiful  Norah  Narcross, 
who  would  question  his  hasty  departure,  and  perhaps 
charge  it  against  him.  They  had  never  exchanged 
vows  of  love,  yet  there  seemed  to  be  a  secret  under- 
standing that  they  were  destined  for  one  another,  but 
the  spell  might  be  broken,  and  from  that  hour  their 
lives  might  drift  apart^  never  to  meet  again  on  th^e 
ocean  of  life. 

The  war  would  keep  them  separate  ;  it  might  prove 
death  for  one,  sorrow  and  bitterness  for  the  other. 

''  We  mus'  be  off,  Massa  Bob,"  said  the  negro. 
"  Dar's  no  tellin'  what  Tom's  gone  an'  done.  De  ribber 
ara  wide  hyer,  an'  we  kin  git  through  de  picket  boats 
if  we  watch  de  corners." 

Bentham  stepped  into  the  boat,  followed  by  his 
jlusky  friend,  who  took  up  the  oars  and  prepared  to 
ptish  out  into  the  stream. 


IRE  BLOVKADE  RUNNER.  57 

.  The  night  was  dark,  unrelieved  by  a  single  star,  and 
a  strong  breeze  was  blowing  from  the  sea. 

No  longer  roared  the  mad  waves  over  the  shoals,  or 
raced  like  horses  through  the  rocky  channels. 

The  air  was  cold,  so  cold  that  Bentham  drevv'  hisc.'.p 
around  his  head. 

"  I  am  ready,  Jupe,"  he  said.  "  Now  for  the  Union 
fleet !" 

A  moment  later  the  boat  would  have  left  the  shore, 
if  two  fignres  had  not  rushed  to  the  water's  edge,  and 
a  voice  exclaimed  : 

"  Put  off  if  you  dare  !  1  am  here  to  see  you,  llobert 
Bentham." 

"  It  am  Cap'n  Powers,  Massa  Bob,"  whispered  Jupe, 
who  stil'l  clutched  the  oars,  as  the  flash  of  a  lantern 
illumined  the  night.  "  I  can  send  de  ole  boat  out  of 
his  reach  in  a  second." 

''No,"  said  Bentham,  rising  and  facing  the  figures 
on  shore.  "  I  am  here,  Captain  Powers.  What  is  it 
3'ou  want  of  me  ?" 

He  stepped  from  the  boat  as  the  last  word  dropped 
from  his  tongue,  and  throwing  open  his  coat,  he  dis- 
pla3'ed  a  sword  and  two  pistols. 

"  Just  what  I  wish  !"  continued  the  privateersman. 
"I  am  here  to  check  j'our  flight  to  the  Yankee  fleet, 
but  you  are  willing  to  fight  ?" 

"  Yes,  I  am  eager  to  meet  you,  from  what  I  have 
heard  to-night,"  was  the  reply.  "If  you  want  a  prov- 
ocation let  this  prove  sufficient !" 

Hastily  drawing  his  sword,  Bentham  struck  Powers 
across  the  face  with  the  flat  side. 

An  oath  of  rage  fell  from  the  captain's  lips  as  ha 
staggered  from  the  blow. 


58  TEE  BLOCKADE  EUNNEB. 

"  Fo'  de  land's  sake,  dat  war  a  tellin'  lick  !"  ejaculated 
Jupe,  his  eyes  glittering  like  a  pair  of  diamonds.  "It's 
no  mo'  dan  Cap'n  Powers  deserves'  fo'  sneakin'  'round 
arter  de  young  missus  so  much." 

The  man  who  accompanied  Powers  was  muffled  to 
the  throat  in  a  thick  overcoat,  but  Jupe  recognized 
him  as  Flash  Gilmor. 

Hard  upon  the  blow  with  the  flattened  side  of  the 
sword,  Powers  drew  the  weapon  that  hung  in  its 
scabbard  on  his  thigh,  and  handed  the  lantern  to  his 
friend, 

"  We  will  fight  here — now  !"  he  exclaimed,  facing 
"Bentham,  who  was  already  on  guard.  "  That  black 
traitor  is  your  second,  I  suppose.  Gilmor,  here,  is 
mine.  You  were  to  have  been  my  second  officer  on 
the  decks  of  the  Swiftwing;  but  the  hopes  of  many  are 
to  be  dissipated  here.  We  have  never  met  before,  I 
believe.     After  this  duel  we  will  never  meet  again." 

Bentham  did  not  deign  to  reply  to  the  boast  con- 
tained in  the  last  sentence. 

His  look  told  that  he  was  eager  for  the  fight. 

Gilmor  gave  the  signal,  and  the  next  instant  fire 
flashed  along  the  crossed  blades. 

If  Powers  was  a  good  swordsman,  Bentham  was  his 
tqual. 

The  young  man  had  studied  more  than  gunnery 
during  his  residence  in  France. 

Jupe,  the  darky,  drew  off  and  gazed  at  the  duellists 
v/ith  distended  eyes.  Never  before  had  he  witnessed 
guch  a  combat. 

The  rivals  fought  with  much  bitterness ;  lunge, 
parry,  thrust  and  counter-thrust  followed  in  quick 
succession. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  69 

Gilmor  held  the  laatern  in  a  manner  that  revealed 
the  thrilling  scene. 

All  at  once  Captain  Powers'  blade  was  twisted  from 
his  hand  b}^  a  dexterous  movement  which  he  had  not 
foreseen,  and,  as  the  weapon  fell  at  the  water's  ^i\ge, 
he  realized  that  he  was  at  Bentham^s  mercy. 

Quick  as  a  flash  his  right  hand  flew  to  the  belt  that 
carried  his  pistols. 

'^  Is  that  your  game  ?"  cried  Bentham.  "  If  it  is,  by 
Jove,  I'll  block  it  here  !" 

Our  hero  lunged  straight  at  his  rival's  breast,  and 
before  an  arm  could  be  interposed  the  bright  point  of 
the  sword  had  disappeared. 

Captain  Powers  staggered  back  with  a  groan,  as  a 
figure  rushed  past  Bentham. 

It  was  the  figure  of  Jupe. 

With  the  fury  of  a  tiger  the  darky  threw  himself 
upon  Gilmor,  whom  he  dealt  several  terrible  blows  in 
quick  succession,  and  who  fell  to  the  ground  when 
released. 

"  He  war  drawin'  his  pistol,  Massa  Bob,  an'  I  thought 
I'd  hinder  'ira,"  said  Jupe,  returning  to  Bentham,  with 
victory  in  his  eyes.  "  I  guess  de  coast  am  cl'ar  now. 
Cap'n  Powers  doesn't  seem  to  be  dead,  but  he  can't  in- 
terfere any  mo'.     Shall  we  try  it  ag'in  ?" 

Bentham  stepped  once  more  into  the  boat,  but  not 
without  a  glance  at  the  two  figures  lying  motionless 
on  the  duelling  ground. 

Jupe  shoved  the  boat  into  the  stream,  and  his  strong 
black  arras  propelled  it  rapidly  from  the  spot. 

It  was  a  dangerous  journey,  for  the  picket  boats  of 
Cape  Fear  Kiver  were  always  on  the  alert;  but  fortune 
favored  our  young  hero. 


60  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNJ^ER. 

The  boat  crept  from  the  river's  mouth  .at  last ;  it 
breasted  the  surf,  and  glided  on  out  to  sea. 

An  hour  later  a  cry  of  "  Boat  ahoy  !"  cut  the  dark- 
ness. 

An  answer  was  returned,  and  Robert  Bentham  at 
last  stood  on  the  deck  of  a  Union  blockader. 


liilj  JLiliUt'JlAJjUJ  liUl\j.^iLh 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

HOW    A    SHIP    CHANGED    HANDS. 

It  was  the  morning  after  Robert  Bentham's  escape 
from  Wilmington,  and  Gordon  Mowbray  was  walking 
his  library  like  a  caged  lion. 

Suddenly  a  rap  sounded  on  the  door. 

"Come  in,"  said  Mowbray,  glancing  up,  but  not 
breaking  his  strides. 

The  door  opened,  and  a  well-built  man,  with  a 
bandage  over  one  eye,  entered  and  dropped  into  the 
chair  to  which  he  was  assigned  by  a  wave  of  the  hand. 

"  That  nigger  of  yours  has  a  fist  like  a  sledge 
hammer,  and  muscle  to  suit,  colonel,"  he  said,  fixing  on 
Mowbray  his  one  good  eye  that  flashed  angrily. 
"I  was  about  to  serve  on  that  nephew  of  yours  a  writ 
of  forcible  detention  in  the  shape  of  a  revolver,  when 
Jupe  sprung  at  me  like  a  tiger,  and  the  three  blows  he 
dealt,  all  in  less  than  a  second,  felt  likje  the  falls  of  a 
trip-hammer.  I  saw  all  the  stars  that  ever  glittered 
in  the  universe,  and  my  head  this  morning  feels  as  big 
as  a  mountain." 

"  Tell  me  all  about  it.  I  have  heard  nothing  but  re- 
ports. I  have  been  waiting  for  you,  Gilmor,  I 
thought  you  would  come.     Go  on  !" 

Mowbray's  crisp  sentences  <lisclosed  both  his  im- 
patience and  ill  humor. 

He  had  thrown  himself  into  a  chair  in  front  of  his 


62  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNJS'ER. 

visitor,  who  was  Flash  Gilmor,  Captain  Powers' 
second  in  the  duel  on  the  river  bank  the  evening 
before. 

"  Dick  and  I  were  hunted  up  last  night  by  Tom,  who, 
somehow  or  other,  had  discovered  your  nephew  was 
going  to  join  the  Yankees  against  us,"  began  Gilmor. 
"  We  at  once  resolved  to  thwart  him,  and  to  clip  his 
winof  feathers  at  the  same  time.  There  was  no  inten- 
tion  of  hurting  him.  The  duel  that  was  fought  he 
brought  about  himself.  We — Dick  and  myself — 
started  for  your  house  immediately  after  getting 
Tom's  news,  and  on  our  way  we  saw  Bentham  and 
Jupe  cross  the  street  ahead  of  us,  moving  toward  the 
river.  Of  course  we  followed  and  saw  that  nigger 
pull  a  boat  from  the  water.  Everything  was  plain, 
then.  The  two  were  going  to  the  Yankee  fleet,  and 
we  had  a  right  to  detain  them.  The  captain  called  a 
halt,  when  Bentham  jumped  from  the  boat,  opened  his 
coat,  showing  that  he  was  fully  prepared  for  a  fight, 
and  rushed  at  Powers  with  a  sword.  That  brought  oa 
the  fight." 

"  Well  ?"  said  Mr.  Mowbray  impatiently. 

"  They  must  have  fought  for  five  minutes  without 
one  gaining  any  advantage  over  the  other.  If  Powers 
knows  how  to  handle  a  sword,  I  now  know  that  Bob 
Bentham  practiced  fencing  while  abroad.  At  last  he 
got  in  a  pass  and  a  twist  that  disarmed  the  captain, 
and  before  the  lost  ground  could  be  recovered  his 
sword  transfixed  the  disarmed  man.  Then  I  attempted 
to  draw  my  revolver,  but  that  rascally  black  Jupe, 
rushed  up  and  put  me  hors  de  comhat  beside  Powers. 
After  that,  escape  for  the  pair  was  easy,  and  I  suppose 
they  reached  the  fleet." 


TEE  BLOViz^DE  RUNNER.  63 

"  No  dottbt  of  it,"  said  Mowbray  ;  "  but  how  is  the 
captain  this  morning?" 

"  A  little  better,  the  surgeon  thinks.  He  passed  a 
pretty  good  night.  Bentham's  blade  was  well  directed, 
but  fortune  turned  it  aside.  The  captain  says  he  is 
going  to  live  for  vengeance  in  more  ways  than  one, 
and  I  know  he  will.  The  Swiftwing  was  to  have 
sailed  to-day,  but  she  will  not  get  away  now  until  the 
captain  is  out  of  danger.  I  wish  we  could  have 
detained  Bentham.  I  suppose  he  got  on  a  high  horse 
here." 

"  He  was  not  boisterous,  but  deeply  insulting  for  all," 
said  Mowbray.  "  I  might  have  prevented  this  affray 
by  keeping  him  here  by  force,  but  I  did  not  think  he 
would  attempt  to  leave  Wilmington  so  soon.  I  don't 
cai-e  what  becomes  of  him  now.  He  has  forfeited  all 
right  to  ray  affection.  What  do  the  people  say  about 
me,  Gilraor  ?     You  have  been  among  them  ?" 

"About  you 2"  exclaimed  Gilmor,  amazed.  "N^o- 
bod}^  blames  you  for  anything.  Your  loyalty  to  the 
South  is  not  questioned.  You  are  not  held  responsible 
for  Bentham's  acts.  If  the  citizens  could  catch  him,  I 
expect  he  would  speedily  adorn  a  lamp-post." 

"  No  doubt  of  it." 

*'  Why,  the  Ayounding  of  Powers  causes  great  excite- 
ment everywhere  !  Kobody  seems  to  have  heard  how 
Bentham  saved  the  Foxhound,  thus  arming  three 
whole  regiments  with  new  Enfield  rifles." 

"  How  so  ?"  cried  Mowbray.  "  I  had  not  heard  of 
that  myself." 

"It  was  when  the  Foxhound  was  hotly  beset  by  the 
Yankee  fleet  last  night.  Powell  was  going  to  blow 
the  ship  to  perdition,  for  he  had  given  up  ail  hopes  of 


fj4  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

making  port.  Well,  Bob  followed  biiu  down  to  the 
cabin  where  the  skipper  had  concealed  the  fuse  con 
necting  with  a  torpedo  in  the  hold,  which  was  more 
than  I  would  have  done,  and  forced  him  to  give  up  his 
devilish  design.  There's  no  use  in  talking,  colonel, 
that  nephew  of  yours  has  grit.  He'll  (]o  us  great  injury 
if  his  career  is  not  speedily  checked.  The  Yankees 
will  recognize  his  worth  and  give  him  an  important^ 
command.  We  will  hear  of  him  again.  I  am  sure  of 
that." 

Movvbra3'  was  silent  for  awhile. 

"  I  have  been  a  fool,  Gilmor — a  consummate  dolt  !'* 
he  suddenlv  exclaimed.  "While  I  was  paying  for 
Bob's  naval  education  in  France  he  was  translating 
important  works  on  gunnery  for  the  North.  He 
admitted  as  much — even^  boasted  of  it — in  my  house 
last  night.  Still  I  never  suspected  him  of  treachery 
to  the  South.  It  is  true  that  his  father  was  an  ardent 
supporter  of  the  old  government,  and  if  he  were  living 
to-day  he  would  command  on  the  quarter-deck  of  a 
Yankee  cruiser ;  but  I  thought  the  boy  had  forgotten 
those  things  under  m}'^  care.  I  feel  myself  disgraced 
in  a  measure.  Look  here,"  and  Mowbray  took  from 
the  desk  at  his  right  a  paper  which  he  held  up  to  his 
visitor's  gaze.  "  Here  is  Bob's  commission  as  second 
officer  of  the  privateer  Swiftwing.  I  was  going  to 
present  it  to  him  this  morning,  but  now  I  consign  it  to 
its  proper  place — the  fire  !" 

As  he  finished,  the  maddened  Mowbray  wheeled  his 
chair  halfway  round,  and  dexterously  tossed  the  com 
mission  upon  the  live  coals  glowing  in  the  grate. 

It  caught  speedily  and  the  two  men  watched  it  burn 
in  silence. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  65 

"  With  the  burnino- of  that  commission  has  expired 
my  love  for  my  only  sister's  child  !"  said  Mowbray, 
whirling  upon  Gilmor.  "  He  shall  never  darken  my 
door  again.  When  I  learn  what  vessel  he  serves  on,  I 
will  send  to  sea  an  avenger  that  siiall  rid  tlie  Confed- 
erac}'  of  at  least  one  foe.  I  sweiir  to  do  this,  Gilmor, 
if  it  takes  every  dollar  of  my  wealth  !"' 

Mowbray's  clinched  hand  came  down  heavily  upoB 
the  lid  of  the  desk,  shaking  np  everything  on  the  in 
side,  and  causing  Gilmor  to  recoil. 

"  He  shall  be  hunted  continually  from  wave  to  wave 
— from  port  to  port,  until  the  chase  has  ended  !"  con- 
tinued the  Southerner.  "  My  vengeance  shall  be  no 
child's  play,  Gilmor!  At  the  end  of  the  year  there 
shall  not  run  through  the  veins  of  any  Yankee  officer 
a  drop  of  Mowbray  blood  !" 

"Dick  Powers  will  pay  his  respects  to  him, you  may 
be  sure  of  that,  colonel,"  said  Gilmor.  "  As  I  shall 
sail  in  the  Swiftwing,  I  will  be  in  at  the  death." 

"  Of  course — of  course  ;  but  I  would  sooner  have  him 
caught  by  a  vessel  owned  by  his  uncle." 

"  Oh,  if  that  is  it,  colonel,  permit  me  to  say  that  the 
Swiftwing  is  for  sale." 

"  For  sale  !"  echoed  Mowbra}'^,  almost  leaving  his 
chair.     *'  What  has  thrown  her  on  the  market?" 

"  The  financial  embarrassment  of  her  builders.  She 
Avas  built  by  private  enterprise,  although  her  officers 
were  to  receive  regular  commissions  from  the  govern- 
ment. She  wMll  be  sold  to  the  government  unless 
purchased  by  private  parties  within  the  next  few 
days." 

"  I  will  take  her,  Gilmor." 

**  At  the  price  wanted  2'* 


^  TEE  BLOCKADE  BUNNEB. 

«  What  is  it  ?" 

"  One  iiundred  and  thirty  thousand  dollars." 

"The  ship  is  mine  !" 

Gihnor  stared  at  Mowbray,  who  now  spoke  with  a 
calmness  that  called  forth  surprise. 

"  Shall  I  notify  the  Swiftwing's  owners  of  your  will- 
ingness to  pay  their  price  V  Gihnor  asked,  making  a 
motion  to  depart. 

"  I'll  do  that  myself,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  did  not 
think  I  would  be  able  to  put  a  hunter  on  his  track  so 
soon.  Ah !  Gihnor,  you  and  Powers  will  make  the 
Swiftwing  a  veritable  scourge  of  Xhe  seas.  I  have 
eonfidence  in  Powers.  He  is  young,  but  he  is  nobody's 
fool.  I  don't  know  so  much  about  you  ;  but  I  guess 
you'll  do.  ril  see  the  Messrs.  Bardolph  witiau  an  hour 
and  make  the  purchase." 

"  Hadn't  you  better  inspect  the  ship  first  V 

"No;  I  don't  want  to  lose  time.  I'll  go  through 
her  after  the  bargain  has  been  made.  She  is  worth 
the  price  asked  ?'* 

"  Yes." 

"  Your  word  is  guarantee  enough,  Gilraor." 

Five  minutes  later  Flash  Gilmor  left  the  Mowbray 
home  with  triumph  sparkling  in  his  eye. 

"  A  good  morning's  work,"  he  said  gleefully.  "  A 
cool  twenty  thousand  made  without  much  talking.  I 
found  him  in  the  proper  humor,  and  when  I  had 
worked  him  up  to  the  right  pitch,  I  had  but  to  mention 
that  the  Swiftwing  was  for  sale.  He  thinks  I'm  going 
in  the  ship,  ha!  ha!  When  the  time  comes,  I'll  slide 
out  out  of  the  affair,  for  if  I  would  win  in  the  important 
game  I  am  playing  I  must  remain  in  Wilmington." 

Not  far  away  Gilmor  met  a  man  who  seemed  to  be 


THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNER.  67 

wailing  for  him.  The  two  met  cordially,  and  went  off 
arm  in  arm  like  confidential  friends. 

"  Well,  she  is  off  your  hands,  Bardolph  !"  exclaimed 
Gilmor. 

''  The  devil  you  say,"  exclaimed  young  Mr.  Bardolph. 
"  Who  is  the  purchaser  ?" 

"  Gordon  Mowbray." 

"  The  deuce  !     At  what  price  f* 

"  The  one  you  named." 

'•  Good  !  Gilmor,  you  don't  know  what  a  load  you've 
lifted  from  my  heart.  You  shall  have  your  commis< 
sion  as  soon  as  Mowbray  secures  the  payments.  Sold ! 
and  well  sold,  too." 

"  That's  what  I  say." 

"  She'll  never  run  the  blockade,  Gilmor.  Those 
Yankee  ships  will  redouble  their  vigilance  since  the 
Foxhound  got  in  with  such  a  valuable  cargo,  and  the 
Swiftwing  will  either  be  sunk  or  captured  within  sight 
of  the  coast.     Then — but  you  know  the  rest." 

MYes,"  said  Gilmor;  and  then  he  added  under  his 
breath.  "  And  that's  why  I  never  intend  to  sail  in  the 
Swiftwing." 

The  two  men  adjourned  to  a  neighboring  wine  shop, 
and,  over  the  costliest  vintage  the  proprietor  could  place 
before  them,  they  drank  to  the  successful  sale  of  the 
new  privateer,  which,  in  Mowbray's  mind,  was  to 
sweep  the  seas  and  rid  him  forever  of  his  troublesome 
nephew. 

An  hour  later  they  left  the  drinking-place  and  sought 
out  the  office  of  the  Messrs.  Bardolph,  where  the 
senior  member  of  the  firm  told  them  that  Gordon 
Mowbray  had  just  departed,  carrying  with  him  cer^ 
tain  papers  which  constituted  him  sole  owner  of  the 
privateer. 


,<jc  TEE  BLOCKADE  BUNNEB. 

Of  -  course  another  season  of  rejoicing  followed: 
more  wine,  and  more  mutual  congratulations. 

"Mowbray  inquired  where  Powers  was,  and  I  told 
him.    I  think  he  went  thither,"  said  the  elder  Bardolph. 

Yes,  Mowbray  had  sought  out  the  wounded  captain, 
who  had  been  removed  to  his  cabin  on  board  the 
Swift  wing. 

He  was  overjoyed  to  see  the  Southerner. 

"  Look  here,"  said  Mowbray,  depositing  the  deeds 
on  his  couch.  "  You  will  stand  on  my  decks  when  you 
go  to  se?w  I  want  you  to  do  your  duty  :  but  I  know 
you  will,  captain.  Don't  spare  a  Y^'ankee  ship ;  but 
above  all,  hunt  Bob  Bentham  down  !" 

"  What  shall  my  reward  be  ?"  asked  Powers,  looking 
into  Mowbray's  eyes. 

"  Norah." 

The  hand  of  the  wounded  captain  crept  toward  Mow- 
bray and  the  two  men  grasped. 

"  This  is  a  promise,  colonel,"  asked  Powers  eagerly. 

"  I  will  bind  it  with  an  oath  if  you  say  so." 

"  No,  no  !     The  promise  of  a  Mowbray  is  enough." 

"  You  have  it !" 

"The  Swiftwing  leaves  Wilmington  to-morrow 
night." 

Mowbray  started. 

"  My  wound  doesn't  bother  me  since  you  have 
spoken,"  said  Powers,  with  a  faint  smile.  "  Once  at 
sea,  I  shall  speedily  recover.  I  long  to  pay  my  enemy 
back  for  his  devilish  thrust.  The  Swiftwing  will  cut 
loose  to-morrow  night.  Y^'ou  ma}'  depend  on  that, 
colonel." 

Mowbray  left  the  young  officer  and  inspected  the 
ship.  Everything  he  saw  satisfied  him,  but  there 
were  some  thino-s  he  did  not  see. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  69 


CHAPTER  IX. 

BENTHAM    MEETS    THE    MERRIMAO, 

Having  seen  Bentham,  the  loyal  gunner,  reach  the 
blockading  fleet  safely,  we  are  compelled  in  order  to 
follow  him  to  transfer  the  reader  from  Wilmington 
over  a  space  of  nearly  two  months  and  a  long  stretch 
of  sea  to  the  deck  of  a  vessel  lying  within  cannon-shot 
of  Fortress  Monroe. 

This  vessel  is  the  Cumberland,  a  ship  whose  name 
stands  proudly  on  the  annals  of  time,  and  whom  fame 
has  transferred  to  a  niche  of  glory. 

For  some  time  rumors  of  the  building  of  an  iron 
monster  at  ISTorfolk  by  the  Confederates  had  daily 
reached  the  Union  fleet  lying  off  the  fortress,  and 
glasses  had  long  been  trained  toward  SewalPs  Point, 
from  which  direction  ihe  new  sweeper  of  the  seas  was 
expected. 

This  formidable  foe  was  the  rebuilt  United  States 
ship  Merrimac,  which  had  been  scuttled  and  sunk  by 
the  government  forces  at  the  abandoning  of  the  Nor 
folk  Navy  Yard. 

The  Confederates  had  succeeded  in  raising  the  hull 
of  the  Merrimac,  and  by  a  thorough  reconstructiori, 
rendered  her  one  of  the  most  powerful  war  vessels 
afloat. 

To  effect  this  they  had  cut  her  hull  down  to  within 
three  feet  of    the  watermark,  strengthening  her  by 


70  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

adding  a  sloping  bombproof,  which  covered  her  gun 
deck  with  bars  of  railroad  iron. 

She  had  no  masts;  her  smokestack  and  pilot-house 
were  the  only  exposed  objects  above  deck. 

Her  bows  possessed  a  steel  "  ram  "  for  piercing  the 
enemy's  ships,  and  fore  and  aft  she  was  amply  pro- 
tected by  a  plating  of  steel. 

The  Merrimac,  rechristened  the  "  Virginia  "  by  her 
new  owners,  carried  twelve  guns  of  the  most  formid- 
able character — eleven-inch  navy  guns  at  her  sides,  and 
one-hundred  pounders  at  the  stern  and  bow. 

Thus  equipped,  the  Merrimac  was  ready  to  grapple 
with  the  whole  Federal  navy. 

No  wooden  vessels  could  withstand  her  assaults. 

Captain  Buchanan,  her  commander,  knew  her 
strength,  and  was  eager  to  test  it. 

We  have  said  that  Bentham  was  on  board  the  Cum- 
berland. 

After  reaching  the  blockading  fleet,  he  went  North, 
but  soon  afterward  found  himself  at  Fortress  Monroe 
on  his  return,  where  he  asked  for  and  obtained  the 
position  of  gunner  on  the  Cumberland,  in  anticipation 
of  the  Merriraac's  speedy  appearance. 

The  Cumberland  was  a  well-built  sloop-of-war  of 
1,725  tons  burden.  She  carried  twenty-four  guns — 
ten-inch  pivots,  and  rifled  cannon.  She  was  considered 
one  of  the  most  effective  wooden  vessels  in  the  navy  at 
the  time,  and  her  acting  commander.  Lieutenant 
George  W.  Morris,  had  confideiVje  in  her  abilities. 

At  last  the  much-talked-of  monster  made  her  appear- 
ance. 

It  was  the  eighth  of  March,  and  the  sun  was  sloping 
westward  from  his  meridian. 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  ,  71 

The  glasses  of  the  Union  ofHcers  soon  discovered 
her  as  she  moved  steadily  by  the  channel  in  front  of 
Sewall's  Point. 

The  Federal  batteries  warned  the  ships  blockading 
the  mouth  of  the  James,  and  everybody  became  on 
the  alert. 

The  long-looked-for  hour  was  at  hand,  and  one  of 
the  most  desperate-  of  naval  battles  was  about  to  take 
place. 

Confident  of  her  destructive  powers,  the  ironclad 
ship  made  directly  for  the  Cumberland  and  Congress. 
Her  ports  were  closed,  and  as  she  came  within  range 
the  Congress  opened  on  her  with  her  heavy  guns. 

As  well  might  the  Federalists  have  hurled  handfuls 
of  peas  against  the  Merrimac's  steel  sheathing. 

All  at  once  the  fire  of  the  Congress  was  returned  by 
her  mailed  antagonist,  and  the  terrible  shot  tore  mer- 
cilessly through  her  wooden  sides. 

"  We  are  in  for  it  now,"  said  a  young  officer  on 
board  the  Cumberland,  as  the  Merrimac,  after  deliver- 
ing her  broadside  at  the  Congress,  steered  for  her 
consort.  "  Give  her  the  best  you  have  in  the  locker, 
Bentham.  The  progress  of  this  ram  must  be  stopped 
if  possible," 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  replied  Bentham,  saluting  the  officer 
as  he  turned  away.  "  I  have  my  first  chance  for 
showing  the  result  of  my  study,  and  that  beneath  the 
flag  my  father  once  fought  under." 

The  Merrimac  continued  to  approach. 

Bentham  carefully  sighted  his  gun,  and  all  at  once 
the  heavy  shot  broke  the  silence  that  reigned  on  the 
gun-deck. 

The  ball  struck  the  Merrimac,  showing  that  it  had 


73  THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNER. 

been  well  aimed,  but  took  no  effect,  merely  glancing 
upward  and  flying  off. 

Bentham,  who  had  watched  the  shot,  turned  quietly 
to  the  officer  of  the  division. 

"  We  can't  stop  tl:^it  craft,  sir,''  he  said  respectfully. 

The  next  moment  the  Cumberland  delivered  a 
broadside  which  would  tave  sunk  the  largest  wooden 
vessel  afloat. 

The  balls  struck  the  Merriraac  in  every  conceivable 
place,  but  she  still  moved  on. 

Could  nothing  check  her  ? 

Was  she  destined  to  gain  a  victory  which  would 
place  the  great  seaboard  cities  of  the  Korth  at  her 
mercy  ? 

"  Great  heavens !  she  is  going  to  strike  us !"  ex- 
claimed Bentham,  who  saw  the  Merrimac  rounding  to 
after  the  broadside. 

This  was  the  Confederate's  intention. 

Head  on,  she  made  for  the  Cumberland,  from  whose 
guns  belched  forth  a  perfect  rain  of  iron  and  steel. 

The  shock  was  terrible. 

The  steel  prow,  which  nothing  could  resist,  struck 
the  Cumberland  about  amidships,  literally  laying  her 
open,  and  placing  her  at  once  in  a  sinking  condition. 

Still  her  heroes  stood  by  their  guns. 

Broadside  after  broadside  they  poured  against  the 
steel  sides  of  their  foe,  while  her  guns  continually 
raked  them  fore  and  aft,  filling  the  cockpit  with 
wounded,  and  making  her  decks  slippery  with  blood. 

It  was  a  terrible  moment. 

Bentham,  his  face  powder  burned  and  his  clothes 
splashed  by  the  blood  of  his  comrades,  fought  his 
gun  with  the  courage  of  a  young  lion. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  73 

"  "We  fight  as  long  as  we  float,  boys !"  he  said  to  bis 
companions.  "  Tbe  old  flag  still  waves  overbead. 
Give  tbe  Confederates  some  more  doses  of  iron  !  Hur- 
rah for  tbe  Union !" 

Bravery  would  not  save  the  day. 
1  Tbe  Cumberland,  gallant  ship,  was  doomed ! 

Water  was  rushing  into  ber  forward  magazine,  and 
the  cries  of  tbe  wounded  added  to  tbe  horror  of  tbe 
scene. 

Some  of  the  guns  almost  touched  the  waves,  but  tbe 
Union  tars  still  worked  them,  occasionally  sending  up 
loud  cheers  of  defiance. 

Braver  men  never  fought  a  ship. 

To  add  to  the  terrible  spectacle,  the  after  pivot  gun 
got  loose  and  rolled  about,  crushing  men  without 
mercy,  and  hastening  tbe  fate  of  the  vessel. 

Tbe  flag  of  tbe  Cumberland  continued  to  wave  over 
her  gallant  crew.  It  inspired  them  with  new  courage, 
and  called  forth  cheer  after  cheer  as  the  grand  old 
ship  settled  toward  the  depths  of  the  sea. 

Without  pity  and  as  destructively  as  ever,  tbe  Mer- 
rimac  continued  to  deliver  ber  terrific  broadsides  into 
the  Cumberland. 

Tbe  shot  opened  great  gashes  wherever  they  struck, 
and  tbe  blood  of  tbe  Cumberland's  tars  ran  through 
them  into  the  sea. 

At  last,  when  destruction  seemed  unavoidable,  tbe 
boats  were  ordered  out. 

They  were  brought  alongside  with  difficulty. 

The  men  could  hardly  escape  from  the  gun-deck  to 
the  spar-deck,  the  ship  was  sinking  so  rapidl}'^ ;  they 
climbed  into  the  rigging,  or  sprung  overboard  to  save 
their  lives. 


74  TEE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNER. 

"  Come,  Bentham,"  said  an  officer  to  the  young  gun- 
ner, who  was  loading  one  of  the  guns  with  his  own 
hands.     "We  shall  sink  in  less  than  five  minutes." 

"  One  more  shot,  sir !  Here,  men,  let  us  give  that 
devil  a  parting  salute  !'^ 

Several  sailors  sprung  to  his  side  with  enthusiastic 
cheers. 

The  gun  was  sighted  by  Bentham  and  fired. 

The  next  moment  the  muzzle  of  the  piece  was  under 
water ! 

It  was,  indeed,  the  last  shot. 

Bentham  reached  the  rigging  as  the  spar-deck  dis- 
appeared from  view  beneath  the  seething  sea. 

"Jump,  Bentham!"  called  out  the  young  officer 
and  the  heroic  gunner  who  had  covered  himself  with 
glory  sprung  as  far  out  as  possible  as  the  vessel  passed 
out  of  sight  forever. 

After  battling  with  the  waves  for  awhile,  Bentham 
was  picked  up,  and  rowed,  with  others,  toward  the 
frowning  fortress,  from  whose  walls  hundreds  had 
witnessed  the  fight. 

Scores  of  the  Cumberland's  crew  went  down  to  the 
depths  with  her,  among  them  her  chaplain,  whose  last 
words  were  words  of  comfort  to  the  dying. 

The  frigate's  destruction  was  complete ;  but  the 
Merrimac  was  not  satisfied. 

She  turned  her  prow  toward  the  crippled  Congress, 
and  sent  her  resistless  shot  clean  through  her  wooden 
sides. 

iBtit  the  Yankee  tars  fought  their  vessel  nobly. 

Their  captain  fell  in  the  action  ;  the  decks  grew  slip- 
pery under  their  feet ;  they  were  in  danger  of  sharing 
the  Cumberland's  fate. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  75 

At  last  the  Congress  made  for  the  beach,  where  she 
grounded. 

Then  the  heartless  enemy  approached,  and  poured 
broadside  after  broadside  into  her,  until  she  hauled 
down  her  colors  and  surrendered. 

Night  was  fast  settling  over  this  scene. 

The  darkness  was  lit  up  by  the  flashes  of  the  Mer- 
rimac's  guns. 

She  was  now  turning  her  attention  to  the  powerful 
steamship  Minnesota,  which  had  grounded,  and  lay 
apparently  at  her  mercy. 

Captain  Van  Brunt  trained  his  heaviest  cannon  on 
the  steel-mailed  monster,  but  the  shot  produced  no 
effect. 

Where  would  the  ram's  work  end  ? 

It  was  the  gloomiest  Saturday  night  the  Union 
cause  had  yet  known. 

The  fight  between  the  Minnesota  on  one  side  and 
the  Merrimac  and  her  consorts,  two  steamers,  on  the 
other,  lasted  until  seven  o'clock,  wheh  the  ram  drew 
off  and  steamed  back  toward  Norfolk. 

The  day  was  hers. 

She  had  destroyed  two  war  vessels,  and  left  another 
— the  Minnesota — in  a  precarious  condition. 

Everybody  believed  that  she  would  return  on  the 
following  day  and  complete  her  mission — the  destruc- 
tion of  every  Federal  ship  blockading  the  mouth  of 
the  James. 

Then  she  would  turn  her  prow  northward,  and 
Baltimore,  Philadelphia  and  New  York  would  hear 
the  thunder  of  her  guns. 

It  was,  indeed,  the  most  critical  hour  of  the  whole 
war — the  second  day  at  Gettysbu^  not  excepted. 


76  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"  They  tell  me,"  said  Benthara,  addressing  an  officer 
in  the  fortress,  "  that  the  Monitor  is  expected  to- 
night." 

"  She  should  be  here  now,  sir,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  but 
she  cannot  turn  the  tide.  The  Merriinac  is  invulner- 
able.    I  fear  Ericsson  has  toiled  for  nothing  1" 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  ^7 


CHAPTER  X . 

THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    GIANTS. 

It  was  known  by  the  anxious  Federals  that  the 
Monitor  had  left  New  York;  but  what  had  become  of 
her? 

Had  she  foundered  at  sea,  leaving  the  Merrimac  to 
continue  unchecked  her  career  of  devastation? 

Every  eye  was  turned  toward  the  Cape  Charles 
Light. 

Suddenly  several  shouts  went  up  from  the  lips  of 
those  who  were  provided  with  glasses. 

A  movable  light  was  approaching  I 

"  The  Monitor !  the  Monitor  I"  passed  from  mouth 
to  mouth. 

Was  it  time  that  the  Ericsson  battery  was  near  at 
hand  ? 

As  the  light  broadened,  illumining  the  waters  as 
they  came  on,  all  doubts  were  dispelled,  and  the  news 
spread  like  wildfire. 

At  nine  o'clock  that  eventful  night  the  Monitor 
ran  under  the  frowning  guns  of  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
came  to  anchor  there. 

Lieutenant  Worden,  her  commander,  reported  to 
Flag-Officer  Marston  and  General  Wool  for  duty,  and 
was  sent  to  Newport  News  to  protect  the  Minnesota, 
■whom  we  left  aground  and  in  a  critical  condition. 

It  was  expected  that  on  the  following  day  the  Mer- 


7S  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNEB. 

rimac  would  sally  forth  again  to  complete  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  great  steamship. 

Night  passed  away,  and  morning  came. 

It  was  the  dawn  of  a  beautiful  Sabbath  day,  calm 
and  peaceful. 

At  half-past  six  three  vessels  wera  seen  advancing 
from  Craney  Island. 

These  were  the  Merrimac  and  her  consorts  of  the 
day  before,  the  Jamestown  and  Yorktown. 

The  Monitor  lay  quietly  in  the  water  within  pro 
tecting  distance  of  the  Minnesota,  whose  men  were 
ready  for  the  conflict. 

Disdaining  to  notice  the  cheese-box  looking  craft 
that  threatened  to  engage  her,  the  Merrimac  pushed 
straio-ht  for  the  Minnesota. 

Captain  Van  Brunt  at  once  beat  to  quarters,  and 
suddenly  opened  on  the  Confederate  with  his  stern 
guns,  as  he  signaled  the  Monitor  to  engage  in  the 
attack. 

Commander  Worden  made  for  the  enemy,  and  to 
the  surprise  of  every  eye-witness,  laid  himself  right 
alongside,  and  opened  with  his  monster  cannon. 

The  fight — the  grapple  of  the  giants — was  now 
fairly  on. 

The  two  iron  sea-dogs  were  at  close  range,  muzzle 
to  muzzle  one  might  say,  pouring  their  heavy  metal 
acainst  each  other  in  a  constant  shower  that  seemed 
entirely  resistless. 

Yet  the  shot  of  the  Merrimac  fell  harmless  from 
the  sides  of  the  Monitor's  revolving  turret,  while 
Worden  seemed  to  do  his  antagonist  no  great  damage. 

For  nearly  two  hours  the  ships  battled  for  the  mas- 
tery with  the  rage  of  wounded  lions. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  79 

The  Minnesota  joined  in  the  battle,  pelting  the  Mer- 
fimac  with  her  heaviest  shot,  and  adding  greatly  to 
the  appalling  horror  of  the  scene. 

A  cloud  of  smoke  hovered  over  the  two  iron  ships— 
a  cloud  which  the  spectators  on  the  walls  of  the  fort 
and  elsewhere  were  afraid  to  see  lift,  lest  the  lifting 
should  reveal  the  Monitor  at  the  mere}''  of  her  foe. 

The  pall  rose  at  last,  and  the  stars  and  stripes  were 
seen  still  floating  over  the  little  ship,  from  whose  tur- 
ret the  terrible  guns  were  still  belching  forth  great 
globes  of  iron ! 

Maddened  at  the  constant  firing  of  the  Minnesota, 
the  Merrimac  turned  suddenly  upon  her. 

She  rushed  forward  with  her  steel  prow,  for  the 
purpose  of  dealing  a  stroke  like  that  which  had 
finished  the  Cumberland. 

The  Monitor  saw  the  steamer's  peril,  and  deliberately 
threw  herself  in  the  enemy's  path. 

Her  guns  were  fired  fast  and  furious  into  the  foe. 

The  Merrimac  reeled  before  the  awful  dischargees, 
and  then  resolved  to  bring  the  combat  to  an  end. 

She  turned  her  prow  upon  the  Monitor,  and  with  a 
full  head  of  steam  on,  drove  straight  at  her. 

It  was  an  anxious,  breathless  moment. 

The  next  minute  the  two  monsters  collided  I 

The  Merrimac's  prow  glided  up  on  her  adversary's 
sheathed  deck,  careening  her  and  exposing  her  own 
hull  under  the  iron  casing,  an  accident  most  unfor- 
tunate. 

Quick  as  a  flash,  the  Monitor  seized  the  opportunity 
thus  presented,  and  sent  a  ponderous  shot  under  the 
enemy's  sheathing,  driving  her  off  disabled. 

Still  the  fight  went  on,  iron  against  iron,  steel  com- 
bating steel  t  • 


80  I^^  BLOCKADE  RUNIi'ER. 

The  waters  roared  and  foamed  under  the  boats' 
keels,  and  the  near  shore  shook  under  the  crash  of  the 
gigantic  artillery. 

Would  the  conflict  never  end? 

Men  wondered  while  they  watched  and  stood  awe^ 
stricken  on  the  ramparts  of  Fortress  Monroe. 

Captain  Buchanan,  of  the  Merrimac,  was  a  man  of 
nerve. 

Had  he'  resolved  to  conquer  or  die  on  the  battlefield 
of  his  own  choosing? 

On  the  other  hand,  Commander  Worden  was  prov- 
ing himself  a  hero. 

Two  braver  men  had  n6ver  met  before  in  a  battle  on 
the  wave. 

At  last  the  Merrimac  pulled  off,  but  sullenly,  like  a 
wolf  showing  his  teeth,  and  growling. 

She  had  given  up  the  fight,  thus  acknowledging  that 
in  the  Monitor  she  had  found  a  superior  whom  she 
could  not  destroy. 

A  cheer  went  up  from  a  thousand  throats. 

The  Federals  felt  that  a  great  victory  had  been 
gained,  even  if  the  Merrimac  had  not  been  sent  to  the 
bottom  of  the  sea. 

The  guns  of  Se wall's  Point  received  the  Confederate 
ram  under  their  protection,  gunboats  came  to  her  aid, 
and  she  steamed  back  to  Norfolk. 

The  Monitor  steamed  back  to  the  fort,  where  those 
who  had  witnessed  the  fight  had  an  opportunity  of 
inspecting  her. 

What  did  they  see? 

An  iron-covered  vessel,  conical  in  shape,  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-four  feet  long,  forty-one  feet  wide, 
surmounted  by  a  revolving  turret,  armed  with  two 
eleven-inch  columbiads.  • 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  81 

These  were  the  guns  that  had  beaten  off  the 
Merrimac. 

The  interior  of  the  Monitor  presented  no  traces  of 
carnage  to  her  curious  inspectors. 

Commander  Worden  had  his  eyes  bandaged,  having 
been  injured  by  some  small  scales  of  iron  which  had 
been  knocked  loose  by  a  ball  from  the  Merrimac. 

"  No  thanks  to  the  Navy  Department  for  this  pro- 
tector," said  one  of  the  Monitor's  visitors,  an  old  mili- 
tary oflBcer. 

"  Why  not,  sir  ?"  was  the  question  instantly  put  up 
by  a  young  man. 

"  Because,  sir,  the  Monitor  comes  to  us  from  the 
hands  of  private  citizens.  The  government  has  been 
afraid  to  trust  Ericsson's  genius.  Now,  sir*  it  will  be 
acknowledged,  and  before  the  year  ends  there  will  be 
a  hundred  Monitors  afloat." 

This  was  prophecy. 

The  usefulness  of  the  formidable  Merrimac  seemed 
at  an  end. 

She  had  encountered  her  equal  on  the  wave,  and 
her  guns  would  not  thunder  in  the  ports  of  the  great 
commercial  cities  of  the  North. 

The  glad  tidings  quickly  flew^northward. 

They  crossed  the  sea  and  told  the  foreign  powers 
that  their  great  warships  were  comparatively  worth» 
less. 

A  revolution  had  taken  place  in  naval  affairs,  for 
one  Monitor  was  sufficient  to  sink  a  navy. 

"What  do  you  think  now  ?"  asked  a  young  sailor, 
addressing  Bentham,  as  he  emerged  from  the  Monitor 
after  a  tour  of  inspection  through  her  interior.  "  For 
my  part  I  prefer  the  wooden  ship  where  one  caa  see 


82  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER, 

the  balls  strike,  and  hear  the  crash  of  timber  and  the 
fall  of  spars." 

"  So  do  1,"  answered  Bentham.  *'  A  naval  fight  is 
robbed  of  its  excitement  and  dangers  when  the  sailors 
are  protected  by  iron  plating  which  no  shot  can  pene- 
trate. Ay,  sir,  give  me  the  wooden  ship  any  time, 
and  let  me  have  charge  of  a  gun — that  is  all  I  ask." 

"  Where  do  you  serve  next  ?  Your  ship,  the  Cum- 
berland, will  never  float  again." 

"  I'm  out  of  a  job,  but  not  for  long,  I  trust,"  smiled 
Bentham.  "I  did  not  leave  France  to  idle  ray  time 
away  here.  I  am  anxious  for  work.  1  am  willing  to 
serve  anywhere." 

Several  days  later  the  young  gunner  was  summoned 
on  board  Commander  Marston's  vessel. 

''We  have  heard  of  your  bravery  on  board  the 
Cumberland,"  said  that  officer,  addressing  Bentham, 
whose  face  colored  as  he  spoke.  "  We  understand, 
sir,  that  you  desire  more  active  service." 

"  That  is  correct,  sir." 

"  A  new  vessel,  called  the  Avenger,  fitted  out  for 
the  purpose  of  overhauling  blockade  runners  and 
privateers  is  expected  here  to-morrow.  Will  you  ao 
cept  a  position  on  her  decks  ?" 

"  In  what  capacity  ?" 

"  As  second  officer." 

"No,  sir,"  said  Bentham  promptly,  and  greatly  to 
the  officer's  astonishment.  "  I  want  no  better  than 
to  be  a  gunner.  I  flatter  myself  that  I  know  some- 
thing about  gunnery." 

'*^  We  are  all  aware  of  that,"  was  the  smiling  reply  ; 
"  but  the  government  believes  that  it  owes  you  some- 
thing for   your  helpful   books  and  your  conduct  on 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  83 

board  the  ill-fated  Cumberland.-  The  place  of  second 
officer  on  the  Avenger  is  at  your  command." 

"  Give  me  charge  of  a  gun,  and  let  another  go  to  the 
quarter-deck." 

"It  shall  be  as  you  desire,  sir,"  said  Marston. 
"  Promotion  is  bound  to  find  you  wherever  you  be. 
The  Avenger  will  be  here  to-morrow  ;  such  are  our 
advices  at  any  rate." 

This  terminated  the  interview,  and  Bentham  de- 
parted to  join  the  friends  who  were  waiting  to 
congratulate  him. 

".A  letter  for  you,  Mr.  Bentham,"  said  a  youth, 
joining  the  group  with  a  packet  which  he  extended 
toward  the  young  gunner.  "  It  was  found  under  the 
bastions,  weighted  down  with  a  stone." 

Bentham  took  the  paper,  which  was  not  inclosed  in 
an  envelope,  but  was  simply  folded,  and  opened  it. 

Those  who  watched  him  read  saw  his  eyes  light  up 
suddenly  with  joy,  and  his  cheeks  flush  like  the  cheeks 
of  a  schoolboy. 

This  is  what  Bentham  read : 

"  Cousm  Bob  :  I  was  shocked  to  learn  of  your  sudden 
departure,  but  not  greatly  surprised  at  the  sentiments 
you  have  openly  avowed.  Wherever  you  go  do  not 
forget -that  nyy  thoughts  are  with  you,  nor  that  my 
■wishes  are  for  your  success.  Your  Uncle  Gordon  has 
purchased  and  sent  to  sea  a  vessel  called  the  Swift- 
wing — the  one  you  were  to  have  sailed  in  under  the 
CJonlederate  flas.-.  He  is  very  much  incensed  against 
you,  and  I  believe  he  has  given  Captain  Powers — who 
was  in  a  fair  way  for  recovery  when  he  left — special 
instructions  to  hunt  3^ou  down.  1  am  confident.  Cousin 
Bob,  that  you  are  quite  able  to  take  care  of  yourself  as 
well  as  to  attend  to  Captain  Powers  should  you  meet 


34  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

him.  FlashGilmor  did  notsail  in  the  Swiftwing.  He 
was  sick  at  the  time.  The  Foxhound,  Captain  Powell, 
got  to  sea  again  last  night  with  a  cargo  of  cotton.  It 
is  known  here  that  he  will  again  attempt  to  run  the 
blockade  with  a  cargo  of  valuables  for  the  Confederate 
armies. 

"  I  trust  that  you  will  do  your  whole  dut}'^,  remem- 
bering always  that  my  heart  is  with  the  old  flag,  if 
the  new  one  does  wave  over  Wilmington.  Affection- 
ately. NORAH." 

"  A  Loye  letter,  by  Jove !"  exclaimed  one  of 
Bentham's  companions,  as  the  gunner  reached  the  end 
of  the  commumcation. 

"Not  so  much  a  love  letter  as  a  warning  from  a 
valued  friend,"  was  the  repl}'^,  as  Bentham  put  the 
letter  away. 

He  was  puzzled  by  the  strange  delivery  of  the  letter 
from  the  beautiful  girl  he  left  in  Wilmington. 

Who  had  carried  it  to  the  spot  where  it  had  been 
found  ? 

Why  had  it  not  been  delivered  directl}'-  to  him? 

These  were  questions  that  deepened  the  mystery, 
and  Bentham  was  compelled  to  give  them  up. 

In  the  quietude  of  his  quarters  that  night  he  read 
the  letter  again  and  again. 

He  knew  that  one  heart  was  with  him  in  blockaded 
Wilmington-  that  niglit. 

What  cared  he  if  ail  the  rest  were  against  him  ? 

He  was  eager  to  push  to  sea,  and  awaited  with  im- 
patience the  coming  of  the  Avenger. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  S5 


CHAPTER  XL 

"  YOU  MUST  GIVE  HIM  UP  !" 

True  it  was,  as  written  by  Norah's  hand  in  the  mys- 
teriously delivered  letter,  that  the  privateer  Swiftwing 
had  got  to  sea,  and  true  also  that  Flash  Gilmor,  who 
had  pocketed  a  cool  twenty  thousand  by  the  sale  of  the 
ship  to  Mowbray,  had  remained  behind. 

Gilrnor's  apparent  disappointment  at  being  left  was 
very  great. 

His  physician  had  certified  to  Mowbray  that  he  was 
too  sick  to  go  out  will)  the  privateer,  but  it  was  a  bit 
astonishing  how  suddenly  his  patient  recovered  when 
the  Swiftwing  had  run  the  blockade. 

He  declared  that  he  would  proceed  at  once  to 
Charleston  and  embark  on  a  swift  sailing  vessel,  with 
hopes  of  overtaking  the  privateer  ;  but  he  soon  forgot 
his  declaration,  for  he  loitered  around  Wilmington  as 
though  he  considered  it  the  safest  place. 

Gordon  Mowbray  bafl  seen  tit  to  give  Captain 
Powers  sealed  instructions,  which  were  not  to  be 
opened  until  a  certain  point  had  been  reached. 

"The  Swiftwing  is  a  complete  vessel  in  every  part," 
he  said  to  Norah,  when  he  returned  from  witnessing 
the  privateer's  departure  from  her  moorings.  "  She 
will  make  sad  havoc  among  the  Yankee  merchant- 
men. I  have  confidence  in  Powers.  If  he  is  a  young 
man  he  knows  how  to  sail  and  fight  a  ship." 

Norah  said  nothing  for  a  time. 


86  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

She  stood  at  the  window,  her  shapely  figure  half 
concealed  by  the  elegant  lace  curtains  that  touciied  the 
floor,  and  her  eyes  fixed  abstractedly  on  the  shadows 
of  the  night  gathering  outside. 

•'  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  Swiftwing  will  prove  for- 
midable to  her  foes,"  she  said,  glancing  over  her  shoul- 
der at  her  foster  father,  who  had  thrown  himself  into 
an  armchair  and  was  gazing  at  her. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  her  commander,  Norah  ?" 
asked  Mowbray. 

''A  brave  fellow,  no  doubt,  and  a  good  sailor." 

"  Is  that  all  ?" 

The  girl  colored  slightly. 

"  A  handsome  man,  if  you  like,  sir,"  she  answered. 

"  Nothing  more  ?" 

Norah  turned  from  the  Avindow  and  approached 
Mowbray,  at  whose  side  she  suddenly  stopped,  and 
into  whose  upturned  eyes  she  looked  calmly. 

"You  are  getting  at  something,  Uncle  Gordon,  but 
I  am  puzzled,"  she  said,  smiling.  "Come,  relieve  me; 
solve  the  enigma.     I  am  all  attention." 

As  she  finished,  the  fair  girl  drew  a  chair  up  to 
Mowbray's  side  and  seated  herself  in  it  with  her  face 
turned  upon  the  Southerner. 

"  My  words  should  not  be  a  puzzle,  Norah,"  he  said. 
"  I  do  not  see  why  you  see  in  Captain  Powers  only  a 
brave  fellow  and  a  good  sailor.  Is  that  all  a  young 
lady  should  see  in  her  lover  ?" 

Nora  started. 

"  My  lover  1    Captain  Powers  a  suitor  for  my  hand  ?" 

Mowbray  seemed  to  enjoy  her  surprise. 

"  What  else  could  he  be  ?"  he  asked.  "  He  has  been 
our  most  frequent  visitor  ever  since  the  war  opened. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  87 

Of  course,  Norah,  I  once  thought  that  you  were  to 
become  my  nephew's  wife,  but  his  treachery  has 
changed  all  that,  and  you  must  look  out  for  a  loyal 
husband.  Let  me  see.  You  are  nineteen,  girl ;  old 
enough  to  choose  a  husband.  Bentham  is  out  of  tho 
question.     You  do  not  think  of  him,  I  hope?'' 

The  hand  that  touched  Mowbray's  arm  trembleil 
like  an  aspen  leaf,  and^all  color  fled  from  its  fair  pwb- 
sessor's  face. 

"  She  thinks  of  him  still,"  went  through  Mowbray's 
mind.  ''If  I  leave  everything  to  her  I  will  hav^ 
trouble  in  keeping  my  promise  with  Powers.  I  shail 
open  the  home  campaign  at  once.  This  girl  shall  un- 
derstand that  I  am  master  here." 

He  kept  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  girl. 

*'  I  want  you  to  banish  my  nephew  from  your  mind 
— to  tear  him  from  3'our  heart,  if  he  still  remains 
there,"  he  said,  with  a  Mowbray's  sternness.  *'  He  is 
going  to  be  hunted  like  a  pirate  by  the  ship  I  have  just 
sent  to  sea.  Captain  Powers  and  I  have  taken  mutu.iI 
oaths,  which  shall  be  kept.  Nay,  do  not  start,  I^orah. 
You  have  lived  too  long  under  this  roof  to  know  that 
1  have  never  broken  a  promise.  Robert  Bentham  ho.s 
covered  the  Mowbray  ancestry  with  infamy.  I  never 
thought  he'd  do  this  while  I  encouraged  his  love- 
making.  I  expected  to  see  him  sail  under  the  stars 
and  bars,  and  not  under  the  banner  of  the  North.  Ho 
came  back  to  fight  against  us  all — against  you  and  I, 
girl.  My  money  educated  him  ;  it  taught  him  the  ai  I 
of  gunnery  in  order  that  he  might  sink  our  vessels,  I 
fly  into  a  passion  whenever  I  think  of  this.  I  say  thnt 
you  and  I  have  seen  him  for  the  last  time.  Make  up 
your  mind  to  that,  JSTorah.  Dick  Powers  will  do  his 
duty  1" 


88.  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

Norah  withdrew  her  hand  from  Mowbray's  arm  and 
rose  without  speaking. 

She  was  asked  to  give  Bentham  up  for  a  man  who 
had  gone  to  sea  to  hunt  him  down ;  to  throw  to  the 
Avinds  at  one  time  all  the  love  that  had  ffrown  and 
flourished  in  her  heart  through  a  number  of  happy 
years. 

She  now  saw  that  Mowbray  had  promised  her  hand 
to  Powers,  the  captain  of  the  Swiftwing,  on  condition 
that  he  fulfilled  his  part  of  the  bargain,  a  thought  of 
which  sent  a  cold  shudder  through  her  frame. 

"Come  back  here,  Norah,"  said  Mowbray,  as  she 
was  moving  off  without  replying  to  his  stern  language. 

She  turned  and  faced  him,  pale  as  a  lily,  but  with 
her  hands  clinched  and  lips  pressed  firmly  together. 

"  I  want  3'ou  to  do  what  I  desire  in  this  matter," 
continued  Mowbray.  "Promise  that  you  will  let  the 
Yankee  gunner  go,  and  turn  your  attention  to  the 
nobler  lover,  the  man  who  remains  true  to  the  South — 
Captain  Powers,  of  the  Swiftwing." 

Rebellion  lit  up  the  girl's  eyes. 

She  seemed  to  increase  an  inch  in  her  stature. 

"  I  make  no  promises,"  she  said  firmly.  "  I  will  let 
the  future  ans\ver  for  itself." 

Mowbray  sprung  up,  his  face  flushing,  and  his  eyes 
emitting  flashes  of  rage. 

"What's  that?  Treason  in  Mowbray  House  ?"  he 
roared,  springing  at  the  girl,  whose  wrist  one  of  his 
hands  encircled  before  she  could  fly,  even  if  flight  had 
been  her  intention.  "  Say  those  words  again.  No! 
Keep  still !  I  will  not  have  them  uttered  here  again. 
Once  is  enough  !  You  shall  become  the  wife  of  Cap- 
tain Powers.     I  have  promised  him  your  hand,  and  I 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  89 

will  see  that  that  promise  is  fulfilled  to  the  letter.  You 
shall  not  balk  me,  girl !  /  am  master  here.  /  reign 
in  Mowbray  House.  Sooner  than  see  you  Bentham's 
wife  rd  send  you  to  sea  in  the  Swiftwing  with  a  lighted 
fuse  at  the  door  of  her  magazine  !" 

A  cry  of  horror  pealed  from  Norah's  lips,  and  when 
Mowbray  released  her  she  reeled  away  and  fell  near 
the  door  insensible. 

"  Oh,  I  intend  to  be  master  here  !"  he  exclaimed, 
gazing  upon  her  figure  stretched  on  the  rich  carpet. 
"  By  Jove  !  I'd  rather  sink  her  in  the  Swiftwing  than 
see  her  ray  nephew's  wife.  I  meant  just  what  I  said 
when  I  told  her  that." 

A  tinkling  bell  in  the  hallway  started  Mowbray  as 
he  finished,  and  a  bound  carried  him  to  Norah's  side. 

"  My  visitor  can  wait  a  moment,"  he  said,  picking 
the  lovely  form  up  and  disappearing  quickly  from  the 
room.  "  He  rings  like  Gilraor — but  that  fellow  was 
terribly  ill  whem  I  last  heard  of  him." 

He  bore  Norah  to  her  boudoir,  and  told  a  colored 
girl  to  attend  to  her,  while  he  waited  on  his  visitor  in 
person. 

The  next  moment  Mowbray  was  at  the  door. 

A  muffled  figure  stood  on  the  step  extending  a  letter 
which  Mowbra}^  took  without  an  invitation,  and  turned 
back  into  the  house,  eager  to  peruse  its  contents. 

He  had  not  asked  the  letter-carrier  to  enter  while  he 
read. 

If  he  had,  the  invitation  would  not  have  been  ac- 
cepted, for  the  person  had  already  disappeared. 

Mowbray  stood  under  an  elegant  hanging  lamp  as 
he  broke  the  seal  of  the  document  and  smoothed  its 
folds. 


90  TEE  BLOCKADE  BUNNER. 

All  at  once  be  started  and  uttered  a  wild  cry. 

"  My  soul !  it  cannot  be  !  This  letter  is  a  lie !"  rang 
from  his  lips.  "  Somebody  is  trying  to  frighten  me. 
Men  who  have  the  cause  of  the  South  at  heart  would 
not  be  so  heartless  !  Yes ;  this  letter  is  an  infamous 
lie,  penned  for  a  purpose  !" 

He  stared  wildly  at  the  paper  while  these  exclama- 
tions rung  forth. 

Two  sentences  met  his  gaze. 

They  were  enough,  for  they  ran  thus  : 

"  The  Swiftwing  is  a  floating  death-trap !  The 
Messrs.  Bardolph  and  others  knew  it  when  they  dis- 
posed of  her!" 

Mowbray  stared  a  moment  longer  at  these  words. 

"  A  lie  !  a  lie  !  I  will  prove  it !"  he  cried,  rushing 
from  the  house. 

He  speedily  found  his  way  to  the  office  latel}'^  occu- 
pied by  the  original  owners  of  the  Swiftwing. 

Although  the  hour  was  early,  the  shutters  wore  up, 
and  there  was  a  deserted  look  to  the  place. 

The  excited  man  sliook  the  door,  uttering  oath  after 
oath  as  his  rage  increased. 

"  Halloo  !  Mowbray  !  What's  up  ?"  inquired  a  voice 
from  behind. 

Mowbray  desisted  and  turned. 

"  Ho!  is  it  you,  Powell  ?"  he  exclaimed,  recognizing 
the  blockade  runner.  "I  want  to  see  the  Bardolphs. 
I  have  been  told " 

He  paused  abruptly  as  if  catching  himself  on  the 
threshold  of  a  secret. 

"  Don't  stop,  colonel,"  grinned  Powell.  "I  think— 
I  know  what  you  have  been  told?" 

"  You !" 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  91 

The  blockade  runner  bowed. 

"  I  have  just  discovered  it  myself,  but  I  am  not  here 
for  the  purpose  of  seeing  the  Bardolphs.  They  left 
3'^esterday,  baggage  and  all,  and  my  opinion  is  that 
we  have  seen  the  last  of  them."' 

Mowbray  seemed  thunderstruck. 

"  What's  to  be  done,  Powell?"  he  gasped.  "  Cannot 
the  Swiftwing  be  overhauled?" 

"No  ;  it  is  too  late  for  that,''  was  the  reply  of  the 
Foxhound's  commander.  "  Everything  depends  on  her 
captain.  Powers  may  discover  the  condition  of  the 
ship  and  put  back  !  She  isn't  seaworthy,  if  what  I've 
heard  is  half  true.  Still,  she  may  be  able  to  make 
Nassau.  I  have  a  good  deal  of  confidence  in  Powers' 
sailing  qualities,  if  we  aren't  warm  personal  friends. 
Gilmor  didn't  go." 

"■  He  was  too  sick  to  be  moved." 

The  blockade  runner  smiled. 

"  Too  sick,  eh  ?"  he  ejaculated,  and  then  he  added, 
in  a  significant  tone  that  attracted  Mowbraj'' :  ''  Fve 
known  Flash  Gilmor  to  have  such  spells  before.  He'll 
be  up  and  about  to-morrow  cursing  the  sickness  that 
kept  him  from  sailing  in  the  new  privateer.^' 

Mowbray  could  not  speak. 

His  look  was  a  stare. 

Captain  Powell  did  not  continue,  but  began  to  move 
on,  and  soon  passed  out  of  sight.     Mowbray  was  alone. 

"The  Swiftwing  and  her  captain  doomed?  One 
hundred  and  thirty  thousand  gone  to  the  bottom  of 
the  sea  ?"  crossed  his  lips.  "  I  wish  I  had  a  revolver 
at  the  head  of  the  villain  who  projected  this  infamy !" 


92  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER, 


CHAPTEE  XII. 

THE    FOXHOUND    PUTS    TO    SEA. 

Mowbray's  rage  abated  and  he  felt  like  a  different 
man,  when,  a  few  days  afterward,  he  learned  of  the 
Swiftwing's  safe  arrival  at  Nassau. 

She  had  weathered  gales  and  escaped  the  vigilant 
Federal  cruisers,  but  beyond  this  Mowbray  knew 
nothing. 

Nobody  could  relate  for  him  the  terrible  experiences 
of  her  captain  and  crew. 

After  all,  thought  the  Southerner,  the  reports  of  the 
privateer's  condition  might  have  been  exaggerations, 
coined  by  his  enemies  for  the  purpose  of  disturbing  his 
peace  of  mind. 

He  was  not  going  to  believe  that  the  ship  was  a. 
shoddy  affair,  built  to  be  sold  in  port  by  the  Bardolphs, 
who  left  Wilmington  six  hours  after  the  sale. 

Flash  Gilraor  almost  fulfilled  Captain  Powell's  pre- 
diction that  he  would  be  out  on  the  streets  the  day 
after  the  privateer's  departure. 

A  few  days  afterward,  his  indisposition  suddenly  left 
him,  and  his  friends — the  schemer  had  friends — saw 
his  face  again. 

The  reader  will  recall  a  part  of  Norah's  letter  to 
young  Bentham  in  which  the  girl  mentioned  the  Fox- 
hound's departure  in  the  night. 

It  was  true  that  Captain  Powell  had  slipped  his 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  93 

cables,  but  a  mistake,  by  intimation,  that  he  had  safely 
reached  the  high  seas. 

Norah's  letter  had  been  dispatched  when  she  learned 
that  Powell  had  been  driven  back  by  the  blockading 
fleet. 

Once  more  the  trim  blockade  runner  lay  at  the 
wharves,  with  a  cursing  captain  on  her  deck  and  a  dis- 
satisfied crew  below. 

"  Better  luck  next  time.  Curse  the  Yankee  fleet !" 
growled  Powell,  looking  madly  toward  the  tall  masts 
of  the  blockaders  that  lay  beyond  the  bar  in  the  broad 
light  of  another  day.  "  One  of  these  days,  by  Jove  ! 
I'll  la}'^  alongside  one  of  their  frigates  and  blow  her  out 
of  the  water.  They  don't  want  to  play  with  Ralph 
Powell.     They  handle  fire  when  they  do." 

That  evening  the  blockade  runner  was  visited  on 
shipboard  by  Gordon  Mowbray. 

"  When  are  you  going  to  try  to  get  out  of  here 
again  ?"  he  asked. 

"  To-morrow  night.  We'll  have  a  gale  then,  or  I'm 
no  sailor." 

"  This  will  be  your  third  attempt,  I  think." 

"  Yes.  I've  been  here  seven  weeks  and  mean  to  get 
off  now." 

"  Ah  !  What  are  your  accommodations  for  pas- 
sengers ?" 

"  Not  very  ample,  sir." 

"  Could  you  take  out  two  ?" 

"  That  depends." 

"  Certainly  ;  1  understand  that,"  said  Mowbray, 

"  I  have  decided  to  take  Norah  to  Nassau." 

Powell  looked  his  surprise. 

"  You  go  to  Nassau,  captain  ?" 


94  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER, 

"  Yes." 

"  We  will  go  with  you." 

"  I  don't  like  to  run  a  young  girl  into  danger,"  said 
Powell  frankly.  "  The  life  of  a  blockade  runner  is 
always  full  of  peril.  You  saw  the  legend  over  my 
cabin  door  as  you  entered  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  I  mean  every  word  of  it.  This  ship  is  never  to  be 
surrendered  !" 

The  captain  of  the  Foxhound  spoke  with  resolute- 
ness. 

"  I  am  willing  to  take  the  chances,"  answered  Mow- 
bray. "  You  will  not  have  to  carry  your  oath  into 
effect." 

"  If  you  are  going  to  Nassau,  my  only  stateroom  is 
at  your  disposal.  I  do  not  expect  any  other  passengers. 
People  are  not  eager  to  leave  Wilmington  just  now." 

The  interview  terminated  a  few  minutes  later,  and, 
after  Mowbray's  departure,  Powell  ordered  the  state- 
room got  ready  for  the  Southerner  and  \\\%  protegee. 

Mowbray  had  several  reaso^  for  leaving  Wilming- 
ton at  that  time.  Since  Bentham's  open  avowal  of 
loyal  sentiments  and  his  escape,  a  good  deal  of  popular 
indignation  arose  against  Mowbray. 

He  was  accused  by  some  of  his  enemies  of  being  in 
sympathy  with  the  North,  when  the  Confederacy 
possessed  no  truer  friend. 

He  thought  that  a  few  months'  absence  would  pro- 
duce a  change  in  the  sentiments  of  those  who  suspected 
him ;  and  of  course  he  would  not  leave  Wilmington 
without  taking  Korah  along. 

Then  he  was  anxious  to  get  some  news  from  the 
Swift  wing. 


THE  BLOUKADJS  RUNNER.  95 

Since  her  reported  arrival  at  Nassau,  ttie  great  ren- 
dezvous for  Confederate  cruisers  and  blockade  runners, 
he  had  not  heard  a  word  from  her. 

What  had  become  of  Powers? 

The  day  after  Mowbray's  visit  to  Captain  Powell, 
another  man  came  aboai'd  the  Foxhound. 

He  was  a  fine-looking  individual,  with  a  glossy  black 
beard,  which  of  itself  stamped  him  an  important 
personage. 

"  When  do  you  get  off  ?"_  he  said  to  Powell. 

"  To-night." 

"  Without  fail  V 

"  Such  is  ray  expectation." 

"  Good  !     I  go  with  you  to  Nassau." 

"The  deuce  you  do  !"  was  at  the  end  of  Powell's 
tongue ;  but  he  did  not  let  it  go. 

"  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  take  you,  sir  ;  but  the 
truth  of  the  matter  is  that  my  two  staterooms " 

"  I  can  get  along  without  a  stateroom,  captain,"  was 
the  interruption  ;  and  the  speaker  laughed.  '*  I  must 
go  to  Nassau ;  there  can  be  no  ifs  and  buts  about 
it.  I  am  an  agent  of  the  Confederate  government, 
and " 

"  Beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  Powell.  "  You  shall 
go  with  me  then  in  spite  of  a  thousand  Yankee  block- 
aders.  Pll  make  you  as  comfortable  as  possible  in  ray 
own  cabin,  while  I  will  bunk  with  Mr.  Cresson,  ray 
second  officer.     Where  is  your  luggage  ?" 

"  I  have  none." 

Thus  the  Foxhound  got  another  passenger,  and 
Powell  threw  a  quick  but  penetrating  glance  at  him  as 
they  separated. 

"  I've  seen  a  man  of  his  make-up  somewhere^"  he 


95  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

said  to  himself  ;  "  but  just  where  I  can't  make  out 
now.  I  don't  remember  that  big  beard,  though  ;  I 
think  the  man  didn't  have  it  when  I  knew  him.  By 
Jove  !  I  forgot  to  ask  him  his  name.  Never  mind, 
I'll  steer  afoul  of  it  when  I  tackle  him  again." 

The  afternoon  was  going  fast  when  Mowbray  and 
Norah,  accompanied  by  their  baggage,  came  aboard 
and  were  greeted  by  Powell. 

The  young  girl  was  pale  and  nervous,  but  very 
beautiful. 

Siie  did  not  seem  sad  at  the  thought  of  leaving  the 
old  Carolina  city  where  all  the  happy  years  of  her 
life  had  been  spent. 

Was  she  not  going  abroad  on  the  tracKless  ocean 
where  Bentham  was  winning  his  first  laurels  in  the 
service  of  his  country  ? 

They  might  meet,  and  Mowbray  might  lose  the 
beautiful  mistress  of  his  home. 

The  Foxhound  was  getting  ready  for  sea,  and 
Powell  was  busy  with  a  captain's  duties  when  Mow- 
bray and  his  ward  took  possession  of  the  staterooms 
which  had  been  fitted  up  for  their  accommodation. 

"  That  graceless  nephew  of  yours  occupied  yonder 
stateroom  during  the  passage  over,"  smiled  Powell, 
as  he  ushered  his  passengers  into  the  cabin  ;  "  but  your 
daughter  will  not  object  to  it  on  that  account,  I 
know." 

Mowbray's  brow  darkened  as  he  answered  with  an 
effort : 

"  Of  course  not,  captain.  I^orah  and  I  are  not  to 
be  troubled  by  the  past,  but  pleased  and  benefited  by 
the  future.     We  will  get  off  about " 

"  About    ten    to-night.      The    wind    is   fresheninsf 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  97 

already,  just  as  I  expected,  and  by  that  time  the 
Yankee  fleet  will  stand  out  to  sea  close-hauled,  and 
combating  a  gale.  It  will  be  our  time.  The  Foxhound 
will  slip  through  all  right,  and  to-morrow  there'll  be 
some  round  swearing  done  on  many  a  quarter-deck. 
By  the  way,  colonel,  I've  got  another  passenger." 

"Ah!" 

"An  agent  of  the  government." 

"  His  name  ?"  asked  Mowbray,  starting. 

"Bless  me!  if  I  know — an  oversight  on  my  part," 
laughed  Powell.  "  He's  bound  for  Nassau,  too.  Hasn't 
come  aboard  yet,  but  I  am  expecting  him  every 
minute." 

It  was  evident  that  the  information  did  not  please 
Mowbray. 

Had  the  government  set  a  spy  at  his  heels  ? 

"  I  don't  like  this  situation  of  affairs  at  all,"  he  said 
to  Norah,  when  Powell  had  taken  his  departure. 
"There'll  be  a  scene  on  board  this  ship  if  I  catch  that 
agent  watching  us.  I'm  not  going  to  be  shadowed 
like  a  criminal  because  my  nephew  saw  fit  to  unite 
with  the  Yankees.  I  have  never  been  watched,  and, " 
by  Jove  !  I  never  will  be  !" 

Nine  o'clock  came. 

The  wind  was  already  blowing  great  guns,  and  the 
lights  on  board  the  Federal  blockaders  were  mere 
sparks  of  fire  on  the  stormy  sea. 

The  lookouts  on  the  forts  knew  that  the  fleet  had 
been  compelled  to  haul  off  to  escape  the  dangerous 
breakers. 

The  opportunity  for  the  Foxhound  getting  out  was 
good.  It  looked  as  though  fortune  had  raised  the  storm 
to  help  her  off. 


§8  ,   TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

At  ten  the  blockade  runner  quietly  slipped  her 
cables,  and  with  the  stanch  old  pilot,  Foul  weather 
Tom,  on  the  bridge,  dropped  noiselessly  down  the 
river  with  her  narrow  prow  turned  seaward. 

It  was  a  moment  of  subdued  excitement. 

Not  a  light  was  visible  about  the  craft,  but  the  pilot 
knew  his  duty,  and  she  crept  seaward  like  a  thing  of 
life. 

"We'll  make  it!"  said  Powell  to  Mowbray,  who 
stood  at  his  side  on  the  upper  deck.  "  This  time  we'll 
get  to  sea,  for  it's  growing  thick  as  mud  seaward." 

Mowbray  expressed  gratification  at  the  Foxhound's 
progress,  but  his  thoughts  could  not  keep  from  the 
blockade  runner's  other  passenger — the  Confederate 
agent. 

"  What  is  your  other  passenger's  name,  captain  ?" 
he  suddenly  asked  Powell. 

"  Catesby — Gerald  Catesby,  I  believe.  Ever  heard 
of  him  r 

"No." 

"  Then,  of  course,  you've  never  met,"  continued  the 
blockade  runner.  "  When  we  get  to  sea  I'll  make  you 
acquainted.  He  knows  that  you're  on  Doard,  for  he 
spoke  of  you  when  he  came  the  last  time.  He  sticks 
close  to  his  cabin,  for  some  cause  or  other.  I  haven't 
seen  him  since  he  shut  himself  in ;  but  we'll  stir  him 
out  before  the  voyage  is  over.  Ah !  sir,  are  we  not 
going  to  outwit  the  Yankees?" 

The  Foxhound  was  rapidly  approaching  the  mouth 
of  Cape  Fear  River,  and  shortly  afterward  she  v^as 
breasting  the  waves  of  the  ocean  itself. 

Not  a  sound  was  heard  on  board  the  steamer. 

She  glided  through  the  darkness  apparently  h  ith- 
out  effort. 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  99 

It  was  the  critical  raoraent. 

Ralph  Powell  stood  oq  deck  with  a  powerful  night- 
glass  clutched  firmly  in  his  hands. 

The  gale  was  now  at  its  height,  and  great  waves 
beat  against  the  Foxhound,  threatening  her  timbers. 

"There's  a  light  almost  dead  ahead,"  suddenly 
whispered  Powell  to  Mowbray,  who  still  kept  at  his 
side, 

Mowbray  could  hardly  repress  an  exclamation. 

"  A  cruiser's  light,  captain  ?" 

"  A  signal  light — that's  what  I  call  it." 

"Can't  we  avoid  the  vessel?" 

'•I'm  not  going  to  run  afoul  of  her  if  I  can  help  it, 
sir,"  was  the  blockade  runner's  reply.  "  There !  the 
confounded  glare  has  disappeared.  I  know  what  that 
means." 

"What,  captain?" 

"We've  been  seen." 

"  Impossible." 

"  A  Yankee  blockader's  eyes  are  as  keen  as  a  fox's. 
Pve  learned  that  by  experience;  but  let  me  give  the 
sea-spider  the  slip.  Don't  become  alarmed,  colonel. 
Remember  the  legend  above  my  cabin  door.  '  The  Fox- 
hound will  never  be  taken  !'  " 

It  was  true  that  the  light  which  had  been  observed 
ahead  had  disappeared,  and  it  behooved  Powell  to 
exert  his  utmost  strategy  in  order  to  avoid  the  Federal 
blockader  which  threatened  him. 

The  captain  of  the  Foxhound  was  equal  to  the 
emergency.  He  had  not  been  -  outwitted  yet;  he 
never  would  be  ! 

The  blockade  runner  veered  a  point,  and  then  kept 
on    her  course.     Her  engines    worked   noiselessly,  al- 


100  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

though  the  furnaces  were  crammed  with  fuel,  and  in 
anticipation  of  a  chase  Powell  ordered  the  heads  of  a 
dozen  barrels  of  tar  to  be  knocked  in. 

On — on  through  the  gloomy  night  and  the  tempest- 
uous sea  went  the  Foxhound. 

Would  she  escape  ? 

This  was  the  question  that  was  uppermost  in  every 
brain. 

Suddenly  a  flash  of  fire  seemed  to  leap  from  the  sea 
off  the  ship's  starboard  side,  and  a  shot  hissed  as  it 
passed  over  the  deck  doing  no  harm. 

"  How's  that,  sir  ?"  smiled  Powell,  looking  into  Mow- 
bray's pale  face.  "  We'll  soon  get  out  of  range  at  the 
rate  we're  going  now.     He  can't  do  that  again." 

Another  flash  quickl}^  followed  the  first,  but  the  iron 
shot  was  not  heard. 

"  What  did  I  tell  you  ?"  laughed  the  blockade  runner. 
"  It  takes  a  gull  to  catch  the  Foxhound  when  she  tars 
her  furnaces !" 

The  Federal  blockader  continued  to  deliver  some 
shots  at  the  Confederate  craft,  but  they  did  not  prove 
effective. 

Foul  weather  Tom  had  steered  the  vessel  beyond 
danger,  and  two  hours  later  her  furnaces  were  allowed 
to  cool,  for  she  was  no  longer  chased. 

:  "  Your  hand,  captain  !"  exclaimed  Mowbray,  turning 
suddenly  upon  Powell.  "  You  have  kept  your  word. 
We  have  escaped  !" 

"Captain  Powell,  permit  me  to  thank  you  also." 

Mowbray  turned  upon  the  speaker — Catesby,  the 
Confederate  agent — and  then  started  with  astonish- 
ment. 

"Catesby?"  he  ejaculated,  under  his  breath.  That 
man  is  Flash  Gilmor !" 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  101 


CHAPTER  XllI, 

AN    OCEAN    TRAGEDY. 

Gordon  Mowbray  was  a  man  of  quick  temper. 

He  had  by  no  means  forgotten  that  it  was  FlasW 
Gihnor  who  had  inveigled  him  into  takino-  the 
privateer  Swift  wing  at  a  big  figure,  when  he  must  have 
Itnown  that  the  transaction  was  a  barefaced  swindle. 

This  man  had  ever  been  a  welcome  visitor  at  his 
house,  had  sat  at  his  table,  and  was  pointed  in  his  at- 
tentions to  Norah  ;  yet  he  took  advantage  of  that  very 
friendship  to  play  the  part  of  a  rascal. 

Mowbray  could  not  forgive  such  an   exhibition  of 
double  dealing, 
,It  went  against  his  grain  and  he  longed  to  resent  it. 

Therefore  the  discover}'  that  Flash  Gilmor  was  on 
board  the  Foxhound,  in  disguise  and  under  an  alias, 
could  not  fail  to  disturb  the  wealthy  Southerner. 

What  was  this  man's  object  in  taking  passage  on  the 
Foxhound  ?" 

JS^othing  good  at  any  rate,  Mowbray  was  constrained 
to  think. 

Unable  to  control  his  feelings,  and  fearful  of  making 
a  scene  on  deck,  the  father  of  Norah  turned  on  his  heel 
and  walked  away. 

The  girl  was  in  her  stateroom,  and  thither  her  foster- 
father  went. 

He  knocked  and  she  opened  the  door. 

"  I  was  afraid  you  had  retired,  ray  child,"  he  said, 


102  THE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNEB. 

with  some  agitation.  "  It  is  past  midnight.  We  have 
escaped  the  gunboats,  and  may  now  reasonably  expect 
to  reach  Nassau,  unless  overhauled  off  Great  Abaco 
light  by  a  cruiser  on  that  station. 

"  You  look  worried,  papa,"  Korah  said,  noticing  his 
lack  of  composure. 

"  I  am  a  bit  excited,"  he  said.  "Do  you  know  who 
is  on  board  the  Foxhound  ?" 

"  I  don't  quite  understand  you,"  she  answered,  as  the 
question  was  a  puzzling  one. 

"  You  heard  Captain  Powell  say  that  he  had  given 
passage  to  an  agent  of  the  Confederate  government." 

"  Yes,  papa." 

"  I  have  seen  him.  I  recognized  his  voice  immediately. 
That  man  is  Flash  Gilmor  in  disguise." 

Norah  started. 

"  It  was  with  difficulty  I  kept  myself  from  unmask- 
ing him  on  the  spot.  A  man  who  will  play  his  friend 
such  a  dishonest  trick  as  Gilmor  has  worked  on  me  is 
in  my  opinion  a  scoundrel.  1  am  done  with  him  for- 
ever." 

"I  never  liked  him,  papa." 

"  I  should  hope  not,  Norah.  I  believe  he  paid  you 
some  attention,  did  he  not?" 

"Which  I  discouraged,  papa." 

"Quite  right.  I  don't  believe  he  is  a  Confederate 
agent  at  all.  Were  such  truly  the  case  there  would  be 
no  occasion  for  disguise." 

"  Perhaps  he  knew  we  were  going  in  the  vessel,  and 
was  afraid  to  appear  openly  on  account  of  the  trans- 
action you  speak  of.'^ 

"Well,  there  is  some  reason  in  that.  I  should  not 
blame  him  for  wishing  to  shirk  a  meeting  with  the 


THE  BLOCKADE  RWNNER.  103 

man  he  had  wronged.  I  did  not  look  at  it  in  that 
light.  Still  it  runs  in  my  mind  that  he  is  aboard  this 
steamer  for  some  sinister  purpose,  and  I  mean  to  watch 
and,  if  necessary,  expose  him." 

"  I  wouldn't  precipitate  matters,  papa,  for  I  believe 
he  is  a  desperate  man  when  aroused." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so,  Norah  ?" 

"  I  will  tell  you,  though  I  intended  to  keep  the 
matter  from  you  for  peace  sake." 

'*Whatdoyou  mean?  Did  the  villain  ever  insult 
you?"  cried  Mowbray,  growing  white  with  anger. 

"  The  day  you  purchased  the  Swift  wing,  Mr.  Gilraor 
called  at  the  house  and  asked  for  me.  He  was  very 
pleasant,  as  he  can  be  when  he  wishes  to  appear  to  the 
best  advantage,  Our  interview  lasted  some  time,  and 
finally  he  made  a  declaration  of  love  and  asked  me  to 
be  his  wife." 

"  His  wife  !"  ejaculated  Mowbray,  "  the  scoundrel  I" 

"I  was  surprised — unpleasantly  so." 

"  Of  course  you  were — you  refused  him." 

«  I  did." 

"Well?" 

"  Let  us  stop  there." 

"  No.  Norah  ;  I  must  have  it  all." 

"Well,  he  flew  into  a  passion,  and  his  language  waS 
such  that  I  had  to  request  him  to  leave  the  house."       i 

"You  acted  with  admirable  decision."  I 

"He  gave  me  a  look  of  concentrated  rage,  and 
said  that  1  should  be  his  wife  whethei-  I  chose  OV 
not."  ' 

"The  scoundrel !"  grated  Mowbray. 

"I  told  him  I  was  not  afraid  of  any  such  con*' 
tingency,  since,  as  he  had  conducted  himself  in  a  man* 


l(jA  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

r.er  unbecoming  a  gentleman,  I  should  never  recognize 
him  again.  He  told  rae  that  I  should  not  escape  him 
as  easy  as  that,  and  with  a  menacing  look  departed. 
I  have  not  seen  him  since.'' 

"  I  believe  this  statement  of  yours  explains  his  pres- 
ent maneuvers.  I  have  no  doubt  now  that  he  is  fol- 
lowing you  to  jSTassau,  where  he  expects  to  continue 
his  persecution,  and  perhaps  devise  means  to  carry  out 
some  vile  plot  against  you.  Be  on  your  guard  against 
this  man,  I  fancy  Captain  Pou'ell  owes  him  no  good 
will.  I  will  sound  him  on  the  subject.  Between  us  I 
guess  we'll  make  Flash  Gilmor  wish  he  had  never 
started  on  this  trip.  I  will  see  Powell  at  once.  I 
could  not  sleep  as  Ihe  matter  now  stands." 

"Now,  papa,  promise  me  you  will  do  nothing  rash," 
said  Norah  rather  apprehensively. 

But  Mowbray  would  make  no  promise,  and  his 
foster-daughter  watched  his  departure  with  much 
anxiety. 

The  motion  of  the  steamer  had  greatly  increased, 
but  the  Southerner  and  his  daughter  had  long  been 
accustomed  to  trips  on  rough  water,  so  thev  were  not 
unpleasantly  affected. 

Two  bells  was  struck  on  the  forecastle  when    Mow- 
bray attempted  to   mount  the  companion  ladder   just 
forward  of  the  wheel,  presuming  that  as  the  Foxhound     ' 
seemed  to  be  steaming  through  a  very  heavy  gale  that 
Captain  Powell  was  probably  on  deck. 

The  storm  was  thundering  through  the  riggin"-  with 
an  almost  stunning  voice,  driving  the  jBne  spray 
wildly  along,  and  blowing  with  an  intensity  that 
threatened  to  sweep  one  overboard. 

The  helmsman,  wrapped  in  a  thick  overcoat,  bent 
over  the  wheel,  like  a  statue  half  seen  in  the  mist. 


THE  BLOCKADE  BURNER.  1  >?> 

As  t!ie  night  was  bitterly  cold  the  fine  spray  c;-t 
to  the  marrow. 

As  Mowbray  poked  his  head  above  the  protecliMcr 
sides*  of  the  staircase  a  blast  of  wind  nearly  took  .'is 
breath  away. 

As  far  as  iiis  eye  could  see,  on  every  hand  arounft, 
the  sea,  flattened  until  it  was  nearly  as  level  as  a  ph.  !:i, 
was  a  mass  of  driving  foam. 

The  binnacle  lamp  burned  faint  and  dim,  with  a 
sickly  halo. 

Above,  however,  all  was  clear,  except  a  few  whi'(% 
fleecy  clouds,  driven  wildly  across  the  frosty  stars  that 
twinkled  in  the  heavens. 

The  steamer  heeled  away  to  the  leeward,  and  the 
heavy  black  smoke  poured  from  the  funnels  flattened 
out  and  was  swept  quickly  over  the  starboard  rail. 

Looking  astern,  Mowbray  saw  the  billows  howling 
after  the  Foxhound,  urging  on  their  white  crests  i:i 
fearful  proximity,  and  threatening  at  every  surge  t» 
roll  in  over  the  taffrail. 

They  looked  for  all  the  world  like  a  pack  of  famished 
wolves,  racing  each  other  in  the  pursuit  of  the  blockr.de 
runner,  pitching  and  yelling  after  their  prey. 

Mowbray  was  timid  of  venturing  upon  deck,  which 
assumed  alternate  slants  of  nearly  forty  degrees,  and 
as  he  couldn't  make  out  Powell  through  the  mist,  he 
returned  to  the  cabin. 

The  swinging  lamp  burned  low  and  dim. 

The  place  was  quite  deserted. 

"  I  can't  do  anything  to-night,"  he  muttered.  "Never 
mind,  I'll  unmask  him  in  the  morning.  He  has  further 
insulted  me  when  he  asked  Norah  for  her  hand.  She 
is  to  become  Captain  Powers'  wife.  That  has  been 
settled,  and  no  one  shall  interfere." 


106  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

He  carefully  made  his  way  to  his  own  stateroom, 
and  in  half  an  hour  was  asleep,  little  reckoning  that  it 
was  his  last  night  of  life. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  Foxhound  was  dashing  toward 
Nassau,  as  though  eager  to  reach  her  destination. 

Captain  Powell  had  gone  below,  and  Mr.  Cresson, 
the  second  officer,  kept  watch  on  deck  with  Foul- 
weather  Tom. 

They  were  both  on  the  steamer's  bridge,  keeping  a 
sharp  lookout  forward  for  any  signal  from  the  man 
stationed  at  the  forecastle  head. 

At  four  bells  the  mist  lifted  a  bit,  and  suddenly  the 
figure  of  the  lookout  was  seen  to  wave  his  arm  wildly, 
with  a  hoarse  cry  of  "Port — hard  a-port!"  thrown  by 
the  wind  violently  into  the  pilot's  teeth. 

The  helmsman  caught  the  repeated  order  and  jammed 
the  wheel  over  hard. 

"A  brig  close  under  our  forefoot !"  came  the  cry 
affain  from  the  catheads. 

Mr.  Cresson  sprang  to  the  starboard  rail,  where  for 
a  moment  he  was  lost  in  a  cloud  of  hissing  spray,  as 
the  steamer  careened  that  way. 

He  caught  a  glance  of  the  stern  of  a  trim-looking 
craft,  evidently  lying  to  in  the  gale. 

The  mist  had  heretofore  concealed  her  position,  and 
now  the  steamer  was  upon  her  and  her  fate  was  sealed. 

Those  on  board  the  brig  had  only  just  discovered 
their  danger. 

Her  helm  was  shifted,  and  there  was  great  confusion 
on  her  deck,  but  it  was  too  late  to  avoid  the  calamity. 

Her  sheets  were  let  fly,  and  with  a  wild  lurch  she 
rolled  over,  broadside  to  the  Foxhound,  which  at  that 
instant  gave  a  leap  like  a  horse  clearing  a  gate,  and 
then 


THE  BLOVKADE  RUNNER.  107 

Crash .! 

The  blockade  runner  shivered  with  the  shock  from 
end  to  end,  and  then  she  flew  onward,  burying  her 
nose  in  the  sea,  from  which,  above  the  shriek  of  the 
wind,  came  wild  cries  for  help. 

Then  the  ill-fated  brig  was  whirled  away  astern, 
rolling  frightfully,  her  masts  gone  by  the  board,  and 
half-buried  in  the  brine. 

Foulweather  Tom  stopped  the  engines,  orders  were 
issued  in  quick  succession,  and  then  under  low  head- 
way the  steamer  came  about,  and  was  headed  back 
toward  the  sinking  craft. 

She  was  made  out  lying  a  short  distance  on  the 
weather  bow,  and  fast  settling  in  the  water. 

The  crew  were  seen  working  the  pumps,  while  jets 
of  brine  spurted  from  the  scuppers. 

"  They  are  sinking,"  said  the  officer  of  the  deck  to 
Foulweather  Tom. 

"Ay,  ay;  God  help  them,  for  we  can't.  No  boat 
will  live  in  this  sea." 

"Terrible — terrible!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Cresson  sor- 
rowfully. 

Every  man  held  his  breath  and  looked  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  brig,  fearful  less  the  next  surge  would 
submerge  her  forever. 

The  Foxhound  drew  as  close  to  the  sinking  craft  as 
she  dared. 

Several  life-preservers  were  cast  overboard  attached 
to  long  lines  and  allowed  to  sweep  down  toward  the 
brig. 

But  before  anything  could  be  done  the  mist  settled 
again  over  the  face  of  the  sea,  blotting  out  the  un- 
happy vessel. 


108  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

Then  the  Foxhound's  whistle  was  kept  going,  and 
she  lay  to  for  a  full  hour,  everybody  hoping  against 
hope. 

Then  the  mist  thinned  again,  and  the  water  for  a 
mile  round  came  into  view  ;  but  there  was  no  sign  of 
the  brig  within  that  circle. 

Only  the  empty  life-preservers  tugging  away  at  the 
taut  lines. 

The  tragedy  was  over. 

The  brig  had  gone  down  with  all  on  board. 

Then  Mr.  Cresson  sadly  gave  the  order  that  put  the 
Foxhound  once  more  steaming  on  her  course  toward 
Nassau. 


THE  BLOVKADE  RUNNER.  109 


CHAPTER   XIV, 


ANOTHER     TRAGEDY. 


The  sun  rose  next  morning  over  a  troubled  sea. 

The  gale  had  nearly  gone  down,  and  the  sky  was 
clear  and  without  a  cloud,  but  the  waves  still  ran 
high,  heaving  their  snowy  crests  all  about  the  Fox- 
hound. 

The  day  promised  to  be  a  charming  one. 

When  the  steward  summoned  the  occupants  of  the 
cabin  to  breakfast,  Miss  Nora  Mowbray  made  her  ap- 
pearance, looking  very  pale,  but  withal  verv  charming. 

The  counterfeit  Catesby  was  already  at  the  table, 
seated  next  to  Mr.  Cresson. 

Captain  Powell  was  at  the  head  of  the  board,  and 
he  gallantly  rose  to  assist  Norah  to  her  seat,  which 
was  next  his  own,  and  nearly  opposite  the  presumed 
Confederate  agent. 

At  that  moment  Gordon  Mowbray  came  out  of  his 
stateroom  and  sat  beside  his  daughter,  not  deigning 
to  notice  the  man  he  knew  to  be  Flash  Gilmor. 

The  leading  topic  was  the  tragedy  of  the  unfor- 
tunate bark,  graphically  described  by  Mr.  Cresson, 
and  the  girl  was  horrified  at  the  awful  loss  of  life  on 
board  the  ill-fated  vessel. 

After  breakfast  Powell  invited  Norah  on  deck. 

Mowbray  hovered  near  them,  waiting  for  a  chance 
to  talk  confidentially  to  the  captain  about  the  dis- 
guised passenger. 


110  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

Catesby  amused  himself  by  conversing  with  the 
officer  in  charge  of  the  deck. 

Suddenly  the  lookout  aloft  sung  out : 

"  Sail  ho !" 

"  Where  away  ?"  returned  Mr.  Egan^  the  first  officer. 

"  On  the  starboard  bow." 

"What  does  he  look  like?"  said  Powell,  leaving 
Norah  at  the  rail  and  joining  the  officer  of  the  watch, 
who  had  sprung  into  the  rigging  and  was  leveling  his 
glass  at  the  distant  craft, 

"I  should  say  it  was  one  of  Uncle  Sara's  sailing 
frigates,"  returned  Mr.  Egan  ;  "  but  he's  too  far  off  to 
make  certain  of  it." 

There  is  always  some  excitement  and  speculation  at 
sea  when  a  distant  sail  is  sighted  ;  but  of  course  in 
war  times,  when  the  stranger  is  more  than  likely  to 
prove  an  enemy,  this  sensation  is  much  magnified. 

Half  an  hour  later,  during  which  the  course  of  the 
Foxhound  had  not  been  changed,  the  vessel  was  easily 
visible  from  the  deck. 

Powell  remarked  to  Norah  that  she  was  undoubt- 
edly a  war  vessel,  and  was  heading  across  the  Fox- 
hound's bows. 

This  made  the  course  of  each  an  acute  angle,  and 
necessarily  they  were  drawing  nearer  each  moment. 

Powell  was  not  at  all  uneasy,  for  he  knew  he  could 
easily  run  away  from  the  craft  ahead. 

During  the  next  thirty  minutes  the  stranger  had 
considerably  increased  upon  the  horizon,  and  it  was 
seen  that  he  had  reduced  sail. 

Of  course  the  stranger's  purpose  was  evident,  but 
Powell  gave  no  order  to  the  helmsman. 

He  sent  word  to  the  engine-room,  however,  to  get 
up  a  full  head  of  steam. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  HI 

At  this  juncture  the  lookout  announced  that  a 
steamer  was  made  out  on  the  port  bow. 

Her  hull  was  below  the  horizon  as  yet,  but  the  sail- 
or's sharp  eyes  had  readily  distinguished  the  telltale 
film  of  smoke. 

She  was  heading  for  the  frigate. 

"  This  is  growing  interesting,"  remarked  the  skipper 
of  the  Foxhound. 

"Are  we  in  any  danger?"  inquired  Norah. 

"  Not  at  present,  Miss  Mowbray,"  he  replied. 

"Yonder  ship  is  an  enemy,  is  she  not?" 

"  Yes ;  a  heavy  sailing  frigate,  belonging  to  the 
United  States  navy.  Take  this  glass  and  you  will 
make  her  out  quite  plainly." 

The  focus  was  adjusted  to  suit  Miss  Norah. 

"I  see  her  very  clearly.  A  perfect  beauty  she  is," 
said  Norah.  And  her  heart  gave  a  joyous  throb  when 
she  recognized  the  Stars  and  Stripes  floating  in  the 
breeze  from  her  gaff. 

"  But  we  are  heading  straight  for  her,  Captain 
Powell.     Are  you  not  afraid  to  meet  her  ?" 

"  We  shall  not  meet  her,"  said  Powell.  "  We  can 
easily  outsail  her.  The  steamer  way  down  under  the 
horizon  yonder,  where  you  see  the  smoke,  is  more  to 
be  feared,  if  she  prove  an  enemy.  However,  I  am  not 
very  anxious,  for  the  Foxhound  can  reel  off  seventeen 
knots  in  an  emergency,  and  that's  more  than  any  Yan- 
kee craft  I  know  of  can  do  under  forced  draft." 

"  But  why  are  you  running  toward  this  vessel  if  you 
really  intend  to  avoid  her?"  inquired  Norah,  who  was 
quite  innocent  of  the  dodges  practiced  by  blockade 
runners  at  sea  to  avoid  an  enemy. 

"  Well,  Miss  Mowbray,  I  have  a  purpose  in  view.     I 


11;>  llIE  BLOCKADE  IIUNITEU. 

don't  wish  to  lose  any  time  getting  into  >Tassau,  and 
the  closer  I  get  to  yonder  craft,  as  things  stand,  the 
less  of  a  detour  I  will  iiave  to  make  in  order  to  avoid 
her  guns  and  eventuall}'  to  outstrip  her." 

"I  see,-'  she  said,  with  a  smile.  "How  far  off  is  she 
now?" 

"About  five  miles." 

"1  wouldn't  think  it,  captain."  _ 

"  Oh,  distances  are  very  deceptive  at  sea." 

The  frigate  was  heeled  over  under  the  breeze,  and 
made  a  beautiful  picture  in  the  sun,  which  flashed 
prismatic  rays  from  her  copper  sheathing  along  the 
water. 

She  was  reduced  to  easy  sail,  but  Powell  saw  that 
her  canvas  hung  in  such  a  way  that  within  two  min- 
utes she  could  have  all  sails  spread,  even  to  her  kites, 
such  is  the  rapidit}'^  and  precision  on  board  a  man-of- 
war. 

"I'll  wager  that  fellow  is  dragging  a  sail  astern  of 
him  to  retard  his  speed,"  said  Officer  Egan,  coming  up, 
glass  in  hand., 

"  An  old  trick,  Mr.  Egan,"  responded  Powell.  "But 
it  won't  do  him  any  good.  The  wind  is  dropping,  I 
believe  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"Alter  our  course  about  half  a  point.  That  will  be 
enough  for  the  present.  We  need  only  keep  out  of 
range  of  his  guns,  you  know.  They  have  easily  rec- 
ognized our  character  by  this  time.  IIow  mad  they'll 
all  be  to  see  a  rich  prize  escape  them  so  easily  !  I 
guess  she  is  a  new  vessel  on  the  Bahama  station;  though 
what  good  she  can  do  without  steam  beats  me.  S!i^ 
probably  carries  a  heav}'  battery,  but  I  fancy  no  ste.*;:! 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  113 

vessel  is  going  to  come  within  range  simply  to  test  the 
matter." 

The  slight  change  in  the  Foxhound's  course  was 
evidently  noted  by  the  frigate's  people  j  but  they 
could  not  but  be  aware  that  a  chjise  was  out  of  the 
question,  as  some  of  their  sails  were  even  then  shaking 
for  lack  of  sufficient  wind. 

At  last  the  fri<j:ate  fired  a  gun  forward  and  hoisted 
a  signal. 

The  Foxhound  so  far  showed  no  colors,  but  as  this 
was  an  invitation  to  do  so,  Powell  ordered  the  ensign 
of  England  to  be  run  up. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  Yankee  cruiser  placed  no 
credence  on  this  indication  of  nationality,  since  every 
blockade  runner  was  accustomed  to  show  the  British 
flag. 

The  Foxhound  altered  her  course  a  full  point  now, 
and  as  soon  as  the  cruiser  perceived  the  change  her 
long  pivot  gun  on  the  forecastle  discharged  an  iron 
messenger  which  struck  the  water  a  cable's  length 
short  of  the  steamer. 

Powell  laughed  gleefully. 

"  Go  ahead  full  speed,"  he  said  to  Foul  weather  Tom, 
"and  keep  your  eye  lifting  for  that  steamer  off 
yonder." 

"  Ay,  ay  !"  said  the  veteran  pilot. 

"I  believe  the  frigate  has  run  uji  a  signal  for  her 
instruction  as  soon  as  she  can  make  it  out.  That,  of 
course,  can  mean  onl}^  one  thing — a  chase  to  head  us 
off.  There  goes  another  gun  from  the  Yankee,"  as  a 
flash  came  from  the  Long  Tom  again,  and  another 
shot  fell  short  of  the  Foxhound. 

"  Let  the  old  gal  rip !"  Powell  shouted  to  Tom  on 
the  bridge. 


X14.  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

The  Foxhound  now  churned  the  green  water  up 
under  her  forefoot,  and  darted  along  like  her  name- 
sake. 

The  pseudo  Catesby  had  retired  to  his  stateroom  for 
some  purpose,  and  Mowbray,  despairing  of  catching 
Powell's  ear,  and  too  impatient  to  cool  his  rising  anger, 
determined  to  follow  him,  and  have  an  immediate 
understanding.    . 

It  was  an  impolitic  move,  but  the  Southerner  was  in 
no  mood  for  sober  reflection. 

He  descended  the  companion-way,  leaving  his  daugh- 
ter standing  by  the  rail,  where  she  was  too  much 
engrossed  with  what  promised  to  be  an  exciting  issue 
to  observe  her  foster-father's  retirement. 

When  Mowbray  reached  the  presumed  Confederate 
agent's  stateroom  he  knocked  loudly. 

The  door  was  opened  by  the  occupant,  who,  recog- 
nizing the  Southerner  and  perceiving  his  mental  con- 
dition, immediately  understood  that  his  disguise  had 
been  penetrated  by  the  merchant. 

For  a  moment  the  two  men  faced  each  other  like 
a  pair  of  duellists  about  to  cross  swords,  then  Mow- 
bray, without  waiting  for  an  invitation  stepped  into 
the  room. 

Gilmor,  alias  Catesby,  calmly  closed  the  door,  and 
without  a  word  awaited  developments. 

"  I  have  come  here  to  unmask  an  imposter,"  said 
Mowbray,  his  voice  trembling  with  anger.  "  Discard 
your  beard,  Flash  Gilmor,  and  appear  in  your  true 
colors,  sir  !" 

The  man  smiled  sardonically,  which  only  increased 
Mowbray's  rage. 

"  Then  I  will  do  so  myself,"  he  said,  and   before  the 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  115 

other  could  resent  the  action,  the  merchant  made  a 
step  forward,  and  with  a  quick  movement  of  his  hand 
tore  the  disguise  from  the  face  of  the  Confederate 
tigent. 

Flash  Gilmor  stood  revealed,  though  he  still  wore 
the  flaxen  wig  which  had  completed  his  metamor- 
phosis. 

"  Well,"  remarked  Gilmor  coolly,"  "  you  have  a 
strange  way  of  assaulting  a  man,  I  must  say.  If  I 
choose  to  assume  a  disguise  in  the  interest  of  tiie  busi- 
ness I  am  engaged  in,  \vhich  is  a  government  matter 
and  strictly  contidential,  I  see  no  reason  why  you 
should  interfere." 

"  Flash  Gilmor,  I  don't  believe  you  are  on  a  govern- 
ment mission  at  all.  I  believe  you  are  working  some 
devilment  of  your  own  hatching!" 

*'  Indeed,  sir,"  replied  Flash,  with  an  evil  smile, 
"  what  authority  have  you  for  such  an  assertion?" 

"  That  is  my  business,  sir.  I  have  ceased  to  consider 
you  in  any  other  light  than  an  unprincipled  scoundrel." 

Gilmor  smiled  ironically. 

"  You  leagued  yourself  with  Bardolph  Bros,  for  the 
purpose  of  defrauding  me  out  of  a  large  sum  of  money 
— inducing  me  to  purchase  a  vessel  at  an  exorbitant 
figure  that  you  well  knew  was  not  worth  half  of  the 
money.  You  see  I  know  all  about  that  transaction, 
sir." 

Gilmor  said  nothing  to  defend  himself. 

"  Not  satisfied  to  enjoy  the  price  of  your  infamy  you 
have  taken  passage  on  this  vessel  for  the  purpose  of 
still  further  working  out  your  designs  upon  me  and 
mine." 

Flash  was  stili  silent,  but  his  features  wore  the  same 


i  1 6  THE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNER. 

evil  smile,  and  it  goaded  Mowbray  to  the  pitch  of 
madness. 

"I'm  not  going  to  stop  here!"  he  thundered. 
"  Captain  Powell  shall  know  who  his  passenger  really 
is.  I  don't  believe  there  is  any  great  love  lost  between 
you,  and  I  am  satisfied  you  fear  ijini."        * 

Gilmor  received  this  information  with  a  contempt- 
uous curl  of  his  lips,  but  a  devilish  light  flashed  in  his 
eyes,  and  boded  no  good  for  his  visitor. 

"  A  pretty  Confederate  agent  you  are  !  The  South 
wouldn't  trust  her  interests  in  the  hands  of  such  a  man 
as  you." 

"  Are  you  through?"  said  Flash  at  last. 

"  No  !  My  daughter  has  told  me  that  you  dared  to 
ask  her  to  be  your  wife.  After  robbing  me,  sir,  you 
had  the  assurance  to  go  to  my  house,  and  seek  an  inter- 
view with  my  child.  You,  sir,  whose  touch  is  con- 
tamination !  Why,  I'd  sooner  have  her  at  the  bottom 
of  the  sea  than  see  her  in  your  arms.  I'd  even  give 
her  to  Bob  Bentham  sooner  than  to  let  you  touch  her ! 
I  want  to  tell  you  that  Gordon  Mowbray  hates  you 
with  all  the  hatred  that  a  bitter  contempt  and  loathing 
engenders  !  I  dare  you  to  carry  out  the  oath  that  fell 
fnom  your  lips  in  Norah's  presence  !  Follow  her  after 
we  have  arrived  at  Nassau,  or  speak  to  her  hereon  the 
vessel,  and  I  will  not  hesitate  to  take  such  means  as 
will  rid  the  earth  of  your  presence !" 

There  was  a  pause. 

"Mr.  Mowbray,"  said  Flash  Gilmor,  with  an  ugly 
look,  "  you  have  addressed  me  as  no  man  ever  dared 
before.  I  have  listened  to  you  with  patience  because 
vou  are  the  fathe-r  of  Norah,  whom  1  intend  to  marry 
in  g-^od  time." 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  117 

"  You  scoundrel !     Do  you " 

"  Softly — you  excite  yourself  to  no  purpose.  You 
do  not  know  rae — else  you  would  have  paused  before 
seeking  this  interview  with  the  words  you  have  uttered 
upon  \'our  tongue.  I  would  kill  any  other  man  for 
less  than  that.  Now,  mark  rae  !  I  have  determined 
on  making  Norah  my  wife!  I  will  move  heaven  and 
hell  to  accomplish  ray  purpose !  Such  being  the  case, 
you  will  do  well  to  think  before  thwarting  me.  Ex- 
pose me  to  Captain  Powell,  if  you  dare  !" 

A  murderous  look  blazed  in  the  speaker's  eyes  as  he 
uttered  those  words. 

"I  accept  the  challenge,"  said  Mowbray,  white  with 
rage.  "  In  less  than  five  minutes  he  shall  know  that 
Gerald  Catesby  and  Flash  Gilmor  are  one  and  the 
same  person." 

"  You  mean  that  ?"  said  Flash. 

"  I  do,  as  vou  will  see,"  was  the  stern  rejoiner. 

"  The  words  shall  never  be  spoken,"  said  Gilmor. 

"  And  who  will  prevent  rae  ?" 

"I  will." 

The  two  raen  glared  at  one  another  an  instant. 

"  Remember,"  said  Gilmor,  in  a  concentrated  tone, 
"I  have  warned  you.  You  leave  this  stateroom  only 
when  you  have  promised  to  be  silent — as  silent  as  the 
grave." 

'"  I  scorn  your  warning  !  T  despise  your  threat !  I 
refuse  to  make  any  promise — indeed,  I  reiterate  what 
I  said  before  :  Captain  Powell  shall  know  you  as  you 
are — Flash  Gilmor!" 

"  You  are  simply  mad,  Mr.  Mowbray.  I  have  toyed 
with  your  senile  reflectionsand  innuendoes  long  enough. 
There  is  a  limit  even  to  my   patience.     Kow,  sir,  ii 


118  TEE  BLOCKADE  MUNNEU. 

you  will  not  listen  to  reason,  I  will  compel  you  to 
obedience." 

Gilraor  drew  a  revolver  and  placed  his  back  against 
the  door. 

Mowbray  sprang  upon  him  like  a  tiger,  and  struck 
him  a  hard  blow  in  the  face. 

"  You  villain  "  he  said  furiously. 

"  Your  blood  on  your  own  head !"  said  Gilmor, 
crimson  with  anger,  as  he  pushed  the  old  man  away 
and  fired. 

His  victim  fell  without  a  groan. 


TEE  BLOCKADE  R  UNJ^ER,  119 


CHAPTER  XV. 

CLEARED    FOR    ACTION. 

We  must  not  lose  sight  of  Robert  Bentham,  whom 
we  left  at  Fortress  Monroe  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the 
new  screw  cruiser,  Avenger,  to  which  he  had  been  ap- 
pointed chief  gunner. 

This  vessel  had  been  built  by  the  government  ex- 
pressly for  the  purpose  of  paying  close  attention  to  the 
Confederate  privateers,  many  of  whom  had  escaped  to 
sea  and  were  working  sad  havoc  among  the  merchant 
marine  of  the  country. 

To  be  sure,  most  of  these  pests  were  small,  chiefly 
fast  schooners  and  barks,  armed  with  a  single  gun  as  a 
rule,  but  which  was  as  effective  as  a  broadside  when 
threatening  an  unarmed  vessel ;  but  there  were  also 
severaliron  steamers,  commissioned  by  the  Confederate 
authorities,  well  armed  and  equipped  to  resist  even 
armed  intervention,  such  for  example  as  the  Sumter 
and  the  Shenandoah,  whose  depredations  were  giving 
the  national  authorities  much  concern. 

It  was  against  steamers  of  this  class  that  the  Avenger 
was  designed  to  operate. 

She  was  a  strongly  built  vessel,  capable  of  a  speed 
estimated  at  fifteen  knots,  well  armed  with  Parrott 
guns  of  heavy  caliber,  including  a  long  rifled  gun  amid- 
ships, which  had  a  great  reach,  and  was  manned  by  a 
fine  crew  of  blue  jackets. 

It  was  an  open  secret  that  many  foreign  govern- 


120  THE  BLOCKA BE  R  UNNER. 

ments  clandestinely  opened  their  ports  to  the  Con- 
federate cruisers  for  the  purpose  of  coaling  and  re- 
victualling. 

This  of  course  was  against  international  law,  and 
could  only  be  done  "  under  the  rose." 

But  it  showed  an  undercurrent  of  hostile  sentiment 
against  the  United  States,  and  an  avowed  sympathy 
for  the  Southern  cause,  that  rendered  the  suppression  of 
these  scourges  a  hard  and  delicate  task. 

Two  days  after  the  event  narrated  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  a  vessel  of  war,  tiying  the  Union  Jack  for- 
ward and  the  Stars  and  Stripes  at  her  gaff,  was  steam- 
ing slowly  along  some  leagues  east  of  Great  Abaco 
light,  which  stood  at  the  entrance  of  the  northeast 
passage  leading  to  the  British  port  of  Nassau. 

The  sun  was  setting  in  all  the  glory  of  a  calm  sea, 
gilding  a  burnished  pathway  across  the  wavelets,  and 
twilight  was  fast  settling  over  the  face  of  the  deep. 

The  captain  of  the  cruiser  was  slowly  pacing  the 
weather  side  of  his  quarter-deck,  absorbed  in  reflection. 

The  officer  of  the  watch,  who  happened  to  be  Mr. 
Haskins,  the  first  lieutenant,  was  marching  up  and 
down  the  lee  side,  with  his  trumpet  under  his  arm. 

A  couple  of  midshipmen,  drafted  from  the  first  class 
of  the  Naval  Academy  at  Newport,  for  that  institution 
had  for  pontic  reasons  been  transferred  from  Annapolis 
to  E.hode  Island,  were  leaning  over  the  lee  rail  in  quiet 
conversation. 

In  the  waist  of  the  vessel  and  leaning  against  the 
long  rifled  Parrott  pivot  gun,  were  tw^o  men.  One  was 
our  hero,  Robert  Bentham,  the  other  a  warrant  officer, 
below  him  in  rank, 

"  We  are  here,  then,  on  the  lookout  for  the  steamer 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  121 

Swiftwing,  which  has  been  Vefitting  at  Nassau  ?"  said 
the  petty  officer. 

"  Yes,  that  is  Captain  Graham's  instructions.  She  is 
fiable  to  come  out  at  any  time.  Oh  !  I  wish  she'd  make 
tier  appearance  this  evening.  I  think  the  Avenger 
would  give  a  good  account  of  herself." 

"JS[o  doubt  about  it,"  replied  the  other,  with  en- 
thusiasm. 

"1  am  extremely  desirous  of  trying  conclusions  with 
this  vessel,  for  more  reasons  than  one,"  said  Bentham. 

"  Ah  !" 

"I  know  her  captain,  Dick  Powers.  He  and  I  had 
a  personal  encounter  in  the  suburbs  of  Wilmington 
some  two  months  ago,  and  I  left  him  half-dead  on  the 
sand." 

"  Indeed." 

Bentham  proceeded  to  relate  to  his  companion  the 
incidents  attending  his  night  escape  to  the  Union 
fleet  along  with  the  negro  Jupe,  as  already  detailed  in 
an  early  chapter. 

Jupe,  by  the  |3ye,  was  on  board  the  Avenger,  and 
was  one  of  the  crew  attached  to  the  long  Parrott  gun 
of  which  Chief  Gunner  Bentham  had  charg'e. 

"I  mean  to  give  Captain  Powers  a  specimen  of  my 
marksmanship,  I  should  be  glad  if  he  knew  1  am 
aboard  of  this  cruiser." 

"  He'll  know  it  as  soon  as  he  shall  have  been 
brought  aboard  a  prisoner  of  war,"  said  the  officer. 

"And  it  will  be  gall  and  wormwood  to  his  soul  to 
meet  me  face  to  face  again  under  such  humiliating 
circumstances." 

"  It's  the  fortune  of  war." 


123  TEE  BLOCKADE  B  UNNER. 

"  I  should  not  care  to  have  the  situation  reversed 
though  ;  for  I  do  not  think  he  would  hesitate  to  hang 
me  out  of  pure  revenge  for  his  personal  defeat  at  my 
hands." 

"I  should  hope  he  wouldn't  go  as  far  as  that." 

"  There's  no  telling  what  he  would  do.  I  fancy  he's 
a  vindictive  fellow,  and  no  doubt  would  hunger  for 
my  blood  in  order  to  wipe  out  his  sense  of  disgrace. 
At  an}'  rate  I  wouldn't  care  to  trust  him." 

"  There's  no  fear  of  that.  The  Avenger  will  knock 
the  Swift  wing  into  a  cocked  hat." 

"  From  what  little  I  know  of  Dick  Powers  I  believe 
he's  a  fire-eater,  and  a  foe  worthy  of  our  metal." 

"  All  the  better  say  I." 

"At  anv  rate,  the  Swift  wing,  if  we  sight  her,  will 
never  go  on  her  cruise  of  depredation  against  our  mer- 
chantmen. I  warrant  you  that,"  said  the  young  gun- 
ner decisively. 

"  I'm  sure  of  it,"  agreed  the  other.  "  By  the  way, 
I  think  you  were  a  j)assenger  on  the  famous  blockade 
runner  Foxhound?" 

«  Yes." 

"  They  say  her  captain  has  sworn  never  to  be  taken." 

"  That  is  quite  true." 

"  You  really  believe,  then,  that  he  would  blow  up 
the  vessel  if  hard  pressed?" 

"  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  of  it." 

"  What  a  desperate  man  he  must  be  !" 

"The  prince  of  reckless  fellows." 

"  Should  we  get  on  his  track  we  will  save  him  the 
trouble  of  blowinix  up  his  ship.  By  Jove!  we'll  do 
that  job  for  him,  Bentham  !" 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  123 

At  that  moment,  and  before  our  hero  could  reply, 
the  cry  of  "  Steamer  ho !"  came  down  from  the  foretop 
watch. 

"  Where  away  ?"  cried  the  officer  of  the  deck. 
-    "Two  points  off  the  starboard  quarter — about  five 
miles  away." 

It  was  too  dark  to  make  the  stranger  out  clearly, 
but  he  showed  the  usual  lights. 

"  How  is  he  heading  ?" 

"This  way,  sir." 

Captain  Graham  sprang  into  the  netting  and  leveled 
his  night-glass  at  the  distant  steamer. 

"  I'll  wager  she's  either  a  blockade  runner  or  the 
craft  I'm  looking  for — the  Swiftwing." 

Than  Graham  there  were  few  better  officers  in  the 
United  States  nf./y. 

Although  a  young  man,  he  had  seen  a  good  deal  of 
service  in  different  parts  of  the  world,  and  had  been 
selected  to  command  the  Avenger  on  account  of  his 
excellent  seamanship  and  redoubtable  courage. 

He  remained  in  the  rigging  several  minutes  examin- 
ing the  approaching  vessel. 

"Ah,  here's  the  moon,"  he  said,  as  the  eastern  hori- 
zon began  to  lighten  up.  '°  She  is  in  her  full,  and  we 
shall  have  plenty  of  light  soon.  You're  an  early  riser, 
old  girl,  and  I'm  exceedingly  obliged  to  you,"  apostro- 
phizing the  luminary,  which  was  yet  below  the  water 
line. 

The  Avenger  bore  down  on  the  stranger,  and  by  the 
time  Luna  had  poked  her  shining  face  into  view  the 
distance  between  the  two  steamers  was  greatly  les- 
sened. 


rU  TBB  BLOCKADE  BUNNER. 

Whatever  her  character,  she  showed  no  disposition 
to  veer  off  to  avoid  a  meeting. 

Therefore  it  was  settled  that  she  could  not  be  a 
blockade  runner,  and  must  either  be  a  British  mail 
steamer  from  Nassau  or  the  much-expected  Swiftwing, 
presumably  the  latter. 

A  few  minutes  later  the  Avenger  was  prepared  for 
action,  and  subdued  excitement  pervaded  the  decks 
fore  and  aft. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  125 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE   AVENGEk's    FIRST    VICTORY. 

Whatever  wind  there  had  been  seemed  to  have 
gone  down  with  the  sun,  and  for  tbe  last  hour  the 
only  motion  in  the  air  was  what  was  made  by  the 
Avenger  herself  as  she  steamed  along. 

The  moon  rose  on  a  perfectly  placid  sea,  and  the 
marine  spectacle,  as  the  two  craft  approached  each 
other,  Avas  beautiful  in  the  extreme. 

It  was  a  grand  tropical  night,  and  the  sky,  with 
scarcely  a  fleecy  cloud  in  sight,  was  brilliant  with 
stars. 

A  deep  silence  reigned  about,  broken  only  by  the 
throb  of  the  cruiser's  engines,  which  was  presently 
supplemented  by  a  similar  vibration,  very  light  at 
first,  from  the  oncoming  vessel. 

She  was  within  a  mile  now  and  her  character  was 
established  in  the  night-glass. 

A  two-masted  bark-rigged  steamer,  long  and  low 
in  the  water,  the  moonlight  glancing  from  the  tube  of 
a  piece  of  ordnance  on  her  forecastle. 

Her  side  battery  was  not  visible,  the  oblong  ports 
of  both  vessels  being  closed. 

A  Confederate  ensign  floated  lazily  from  her  gaff  in 
rabid  defiance  of  the  Yankee  cruiser,  while  a  short 
white  pennant  hung  from  the  truck  of  her  fore-top- 
mast. 

The  Avenger's  guns  were  loaded  and  ready  to  be 


^^ 


126  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

run  out  at  tHe  word  of  command,  the  crew  of  each 
gun  standing  as  silent  as  statues  beside  their  piece, 
the  captain  of  each  cannon  standing  in  position  with 
drawn  sword. 

That  was  the  aspect  of  the  main  gun-deck. 

Above,  in  the  waist  of  the  cruiser,  the  formidable 
Parrott  rifle  pointed  his  long  nose  menacingly  over 
the  bulwark  at  right  angle  with  the  bowsprit;  but  as 
it  worked  on  a  pivot,  its  range  could  be  shifted  at 
will. 

The  vessels  had  drawn  within  a  mile  of  each  other, 
when  a  movement  was  noticed  on  the  stranger's  fore- 
castle. 

In  a  minute  there  was  a  flash  of  light,  followed  by 
a  puff  of  white  smoke,  and  as  the  report  reached  the 
cruiser,  a  heavy  conical  shot  whizzed  across  her  fore- 
castle. 

The  fellow  evidently  meant  business  and  no  mis- 
take. 

Captain  Graham  paced  the  deck  but  made  no  sign. 

Bentham  patted  the  breach  of  his  gun  to  allay  tl.o 
excitement  that  was  coursing  through  his  blotxi, 
swinging  the  weapon  little  by  little  as  the  line  of  range 
varied  each  moment. 

The  captain  paused  a  moment  over  the  break  of  the 
poop,  and  looked  down  on  his  chief  gunner. 

"  Not  yet,  Bentham,"  he  said  calmly.  "She  comes 
on  with  the  pride  of  a  conqueror.  We'll  check  her  bv 
and  by.  Wait  till  she  places  herself  fairly  at '  ()4d 
Abe's'  mercy." 

"  Old  Abe "  was  the  name  of  the  huge  gun  by 
which  Bentham  stood. 

As  Captain   Graham    had   said,   the   steamer  was 


TB'E  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  137 

steadiW  approaching,  apparently  confident  of  over- 
coming the  antagonist  calmlv  waiting  for  her,  for  the 
cruiser  had  shut  off  steam  and  presented  her  broad- 
side to  the  enemy. 

She  fired  another  shot,  which  passed  diagonally 
across  the  Avenger's  deck,  breaking  the  taffrail  and 
grazing  the  smokestack's  steel  netting,  capable  of 
turning  heavy  shot. 

"  Those  fellows  are  no  slouches  with  that  fok's'l 
gun,"  remarked  the  commander. 

A.  third  shot  tore  up  the  water  under  the  cruiser's 
forefoot,  and  across  the  surface  of  the  sea  to  the 
windward. 

The  decisive  moment  had  arrived. 

"  Now !"  suddenly  cried  Graham  to  the  waiting 
gunujer.  "Let  her  have  our  compliments,  Benthara. 
Fortune  speed  the  shot !" 

A  moment  later  the  Avenger's  first  gun  answered 
the  privateer's  defiance,  and  an  exclamation  of  satis- 
faction fell  from  Bentham's  lips. 

He  had  aimed  the  gun  himself,  and  had  watched 
the  shot  with  a  night-glass. 

"  A  gallant  shot !"  cried  Graham.  "  The  Swiftwing 
now  knows  what  we  can  do.  She  was  fairly  struck. 
I'll  wager  my  commission  that  she  carries  a  cannon- 
shot  in  her  hull  at  this  moment,  put  there  by  Union 
powder.  She  fairly  reeled  under  the  shock.  1  saw 
this  plainly." 

"Good!  that  shot  was  my  compliments  to  you, 
Dick  Powers,^'  murmured  Bob  Benthara,  pleased  be- 
yond measure  by  Graham's  words.  "  Now,  ray  lads," 
to  the  crew  on  the  gun-deck,  "let  us  send  that 
privateer  to  the  bottom  before  she  gets  a  chance  at 
our  merchantmen." 


228  1'J^E  BLOCKADE  BUNNML 

A  cheer  was  the  reply. 

The  privateer  opened  all  her  ports  and  hnmediately 
sent  a  broadside  into  the  Avenger  in  answer  to  the 
shot  delivered  by  Bentham. 

"Heavens!  she  carries  good  guns,"  exclaimed 
Graham,  as  the  vessel  quivered  under  the  iron  missiles 
that  struck  her  in  several  places.  "  Bat  we  have  cannon 
just  as  good.  One  of  us  must  be  at  the  bottom  of  the 
sea  when  the  fight  ends. 

"  Ay,  ay,"  said  Bentham  under  his  breath.  "But  it 
shall  not  be  the  Avenger  !" 

The  moon  rode  serenely  in  the  sky  and  cast  her  soft 
light  upon  the  two  opposing  craft. 

It  was  a  moment  of  breathless  suspense. 

The  Avenger  had  fired  but  one  shot  thus  far— the 
one  from  her  pivot  gun  directed  b}^  Bob  Bentham. 

The  frowning  muzzles  of  her  broadside  tier  were 
run  out,  and  the  men  holding  the  lanyards  in  their 
hands  only  awaited  the  word  to  fire. 

The  suspense  was  of  short  duration. 

The  Yankee  vessel  was  on  the  privateer's  quarter, 
and  Captain  Graham  gave  the  order. 

Like  a  volcano  in  its  might  sped  that  awful  broad- 
side on  its  errand,  and  the  Avenger  was  enveloped  in 
dense  white  smoke,  which  for  several  moments 
precluded  the  possibility  of  the  Yankee  captain  ascer- 
taining what  damage  his  shot  had  done. 

When  it  blew  away  to  the  windward  the  enemy  was 
seen  to  be  badly  cut  up  about  the  hull  and  rigging. 

Her  smokestack  was  in  ruins  and  the  foremast  was 
tottering. 

A  cheer  went  up  from  the  blue  jackets. 

The    Swiftwing — her    name   was  easily   made  out 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  129 

emblazoned  on  a  flag  flying-  from  the  trembling  fore- 
topmast — answered  with  another  well-directed  broad- 
side. 

For  flfteen  minutes  there  was  no  intermission  in  the 
fire  on  both  sides. 

The  combat  was  terrific. 

The  Confederate  steamer  had  approached  within 
easy  gunshot  of  the  Avenger,  and  the  rapidity  of  her 
fire,  and  its  destructiveness,  showed  that  her  guns  were 
well  handled.  • 

The  national  cruiser's  decks  were  repeatedly  swept 
by  her  discharges,  and  many  of  the  best  blue  jackets 
were  sent  to  the  cockpit,  while  the  dead  was  strewn 
about  near  the  guns  the}'  had  so  gallantly  worked. 

Captain  Graham  was  manifestly  surprised  with  the 
aggressiveness  of  his  foe. 

Like  all  naval  officers  he  held  a  privateer  in  more  or 
less  contempt,  and  had  calculated  on  an  easy  victory. 

His  own  fire  had  been  well  directed,  for  the  enemy 
was  reduced  almost  to  a  wreck,  only  one  mast  stand- 
ing, and  her  hull  cut  up  in  a  terrible  manner,  yet  her 
guns  continued  to  work  havoc. 

"By  George!"  exclaimed  Benthara,  "  Powers  has 
more  grit  than  I  credited  him  with." 

Crash  ! 

A  twenty-four  pound  shot  smashed  the  bulwark 
nearly  in  front  of  the  young  gunner,  and  a  huge  splinter 
struck  the  gun  with  terrible  force,  filling  the  imme- 
diate air  with  a  cloud  of  fractured  particles. 

Three  of  the  gun's  crew  were  badly  hurt  and  carried 
below,  compelling  Bentham  to  call  for  volunteers  to 
assist  him. 

Smash  \ 


130  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

A  heavy  shot  from  the  Swiftwing's  pivot  gun  struck 
the  keel  of  the  mainmast  diagonally  and  tore  across 
the  deck  into  the  sea. 

It  was  getting  decidedly  hot  in  Bentham's  locality. 

The  enemy  were  evidently  seeking  to  disable  the 
huge  gun  which  was  working  them  such  vital  injur3^ 

Then  the  Avenger  shook  under  the  broadside  she 
delivered  at  that  moment,  and  wliich  worked  destruc- 
tion to  the  privateer,  silencing  many  of  her  guns. 

A  minute  later  Bentham,  after  a  careful  aim,  dis- 
charged his  piece,  and  the  shot  struck  the  Swiftwing 
below  the  water  line. 

At  that  fateful  moment  an  officer  approached 
Captain  Graham. 

"A  steamer  off  our  starboard  bow,  sir.'' 

"  What  colors  does  she  fly  ?"  answered  the  Yankee 
commander,  wheeling  upon  the  speaker. 

"  British,  I  think." 

"  That's  only  a  bluff,  I'll  swear.  How  far  oft  is 
she  ?" 

"  About  three  miles." 

"Very  good.  When  I  sink  this  privateer  I'll  give 
her  ray  attention." 

Bentham's  last  shot  had  settled  the  fate  of  the  Swift- 
wing,  as  Captain  Graham  presently  ascertained. 

"  Has  she  struck  her  flag  ?"  he  inquired. 

"No,"  returned  his  first  lieutenant.  "Her  Confed- 
erate ensign  is  still  floating  from  the  stump  of  the 
foremast." 

"  Seems  to  me  she  has  ceased  firing," 

"Our  last  broadside  silenced  her.  She  is  a  mere 
wreck  and  sinking  at  that." 

"Bear  down  on  her,  then,  Mr.  Haskins ;  have  the  guns 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  131 

double  shotted.     I'll  blow  her  out  of  water  if  another 
shot  is  fired  at  us." 

The  Swiftwing  having  had  her  rudder  shot  away 
was  now  unmanageable,  and  the  cruiser  had  no  diffi- 
culty in  taking  up  a  raking  position  where  a  broadside 
would  have  swept  her  decks  from  stem  to  stern. 

That  would  onl}'  have  been  a  cruel  act,  however,  for 
the  privateer  was  now  Jiors  de  combat. 

The  remnants  of  her  crew  were  seen  clambering 
over  her  lee  bulwarks  into  the  boats  alongside. 

She  was  being  abandoned. 

Captain  Graham  ordered  his  boats  out  to  take 
possession  of  the  prize. 

In  the  first  were  sent  the  ship's  carpenter  and  assist- 
ants to  investigate  the  sinking  vessel,  which  was  slowly 
setting  in  the  water. 

If  it  were  possible  to  save  her  Captain  Graham 
meant  to  do  so,  as  that  meant  prize  money  for  the 
victors ;  but  the  prospect  was  not  encouraging. 

The  second  boat  carried  Bob  Bentham,  whose  last 
shot  had  been  so  effective. 

He  sprang  on  board  the  Swiftwing  at  the  head  of 
a  dozen  blue  jackets,  and  laid  his  hand  upon  the 
shoulder  of  a  wounded  privateersman  who  was  trying 
painfully  to  get  over  the  side  into  one  of  the  boats. 

"  Where's  Captain  Dick  Powers — he  commanded 
this  vessel,  didn't  he  ?" 

"  I    don't   know    where    he   is,"    replied    the   man, 
sullenly.     "  He    was   reported   dead    after    that   last  > 
broadside  from  your  vessel." 

Bentham  uttered  an  exclamation  of  disappointment. 

He  ran  to  the  quarter-deck. 

There  were  several  bodies  there,  but  none  that  resem- 
bled the  Confederate  captain. 


132  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNJ^ER. 

Then  he  entered  the  cabin,  which  was  in  ruins,  but 
without  result. 

Finally  he  descended  to  the  cockpit,  from  which  the 
wounded  were- being  rapidly  removed  by  the  Yankee 
tars,  and  made  inquiries  ;  but  no  one  could  throw  any 
light  upon  the  late  commander  of  the  Swiftwing, 
.  "  1  shan't  believe  him  dead  until  I  actually  see  his 
corpse.  I'll  wager  he's  off  in  one  of  the  boats.  How- 
ever, we'll  overhaul  them  all,  and  I  shall  have, the 
pleasure  of  seeing  my  enemy  face  to  face  again." 

But  Bob  Bentham  counted  his  chickens  too  soon. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  133 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE    CHASE    AND    THE    ESCAPE. 

It  was  the  Avenger's  first  victor}'^  over  an  armed  foe  ; 
but  it  had  been  dearly  purchased,  for  a  third  of  her 
crew  had  been  put  out  of  action,  and  her  hull  and  spars 
and  rigging  were  a  sight  to  witness. 

Her  smokestack  escaped  injury,  partly  because  it 
shut  up  like  a  telescope,  and  during  the  late  action  was 
scarcely  visible  above  the  bulwarks. 

One  board  the  privateer  the  carpenter  had  reported 
to  the  officer  in  charge  that  there  were  several  feet  of 
water  in  the  hold,  and  that  it  was  not  possible  to  get 
at  the  opening,  through  which  the  sea  poured  in  a 
cataract. 

The  removal  of  the  wounded  was  therefore  hurried, 
and  every  preparation  made  to  leave  the  sinking  vessel 
to  her  fate. 

When  the  prisoners  so  far  taken  were  marshaled  on 
the  Avenger's  deck,  it  was  found  that,  beside  the 
wounded,  seventeen  of  the  Swiftwing's  crew  had  been 
secured. 

Captain  Graham  then  ordered  the  cruiser  to  go  after 
his  other  boats,  which  were  still  cnasing  two  of  the 
privateer's  launches. 

Bentham  felt  certain  that  Dick  Powers  was  in  one 
of  the  boats,  and  that  both  of  them  would  be  speedily 
overhauled  was  a  foregone  conclusion,  as  the  moon- 


134  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

light  was  too  bright  to  enable  them  to  escape  from  th© 
watchful  eyes  on  board  the  cruiser. 

Captain  Graham  paced  the  quarter-deck  with  a 
frown  on  his  countenance. 

He  had  absolutely  nothing  to  show  for  his  splendid 
victory  but  the  consciousness  of  having  rid  his  country 
of  a  dangerous  craft,  which  but  for  this  rencounter 
would  soon  having  been  preying  upon  American  com- 
merce, and  with  her  splendid  armament  have  carried 
things  on  with  a  high  hand. 

He  had  many  prisoners,  it  was  true,  and  others  in 
the  perspective,  but  they  counted  as  nothing  when  com- 
pared with  the  value  of  the  prize  which  was  now 
rapidly  going  down. 

Suddenly  he  bethought  himself  of  the  steamer  which 
had  showed  English  colors. 

"Mr.  Haskins,"  he  said  to  the  first  lieutenant, 
"  Where's  that  sneaking  steamer  that  was  reported 
some  time  ago  ?" 

"  Off  yonder,  sir.  Seems  to  be  hanging  round  to 
pick  up  some  of  the  privateer's  crew.  I  noticed  her 
edging  down  while  we  were  engaged  with  the  sinking 
steamer.  I  did  not  report  it  sooner,  as  I  was  of  the 
opinion  she  was  placing  herself  within  our  reach. 
She's  in  range  of  our  long  gun  now,  sir,  and  don't 
seem  at  all  anxious  to  make  off." 

The  captain  examined  the  stranger  carefully  through 
his  night-glass. 

"  It  is  strange,"  he  said.  "  If  that  fellow  isn't  a 
blockade  runner  then  I  never  saw  one.  He's  got  the 
cheek  of  the  devil,  but  I'll  make  him  explain  himself 
in  a  few  minutes.     Mr.  Haskins  !" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  officer,  touching  his  cap. 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  135 

"Pass  the  word  for  Mr.  Bentham." 

In  two  minutes  the  youog  gunner  saluted  his  com- 
raander  on    he  quarter-deck. 

"  You've  been  in  Wilmington  lately  and  are  prob- 
ably familiar  with  the  looks  of  many  of  the  blockade 
runners  that  were  in  that  port  at  the  time." 

"  I  was  only  there  one  day,  sir,  and  had  little  chance 
to  inspect  them  ;  but  you  may  know  that  I  came  from 
Europe  on  one  of  the  most  notorious  of  the  class." 

"  So  I  have  heard.  Well,  sir,  take  this  glass  and 
examine  yonder  steamer  and  let  me  know  what  you 
think  of  her." 

Bentham  leveled  the  glass  at  the  long,  low,  rakish 
vessel  that  was  slowly  sailing  along  in  the  bright  moon- 
light, as  though  waiting  for  something,  and  hardly 
more  than  a  mile  distant. 

"  By  George !  that's  the  Foxhound,  sir,"  he  ex- 
claimed excitedly. 

"What!"  ejaculated  his  commander,  who  knew  the 
famous  blockader  well  by  reputation ;  "  the  Fox- 
hound ?" 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"Are  you  sure  of  that  ?" 

"Quite  positive.  She  is  the  vessel  I  came  over  from 
France  on,  and  is  commanded  by  Captain  Kalph 
Powell.  She's  loaded  with  cotton  at  this  moment,  or 
possibly  she's  just  out  of  Nassau  with  contraband 
goods.  In  any  case  you  will  probably  never  have  a 
better  chance  to  bring  her  to." 

"  She's  a  prize  worth  the  catching,"  said  Captain 
Graham,  briskly  issuing  orders  to  bear  up  for  the 
stranger. 

"Excise  me,  sir,  but  it  will  interest  you  to  kaow 


136  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

that  Powell  has  registered  an  oath  never  to  be  taken ; 
for  that  exigency  he  carries  a  Whitehead  torpedo 
in  the  hold  of  the  Foxhound  with  a  fuse  attached 
leading-  to  his  stateroom.  When  capture  seems  unavoid- 
able he  will  blow  his  vessel  to  the  winds." 

"■'  He's  a  consummate  donkey  !"  exclaimed  Captain 
Graham.  "He'll  have  an  opportunity  to  do  so  now, 
I  fancy.     Do  you  know  his  speed  ?" 

"Over  sixteen  knots  when  pressed,  sir." 

"Phew  !  We  can't  match  that ;  but  I  guess  we've 
a  long  reach  in  that  pivot  gun  of  yours,  Mr.  Bentham. 
Call  your  crew  to  quarters  ;  everything  will  depend 
on  your  ability  to  cripple  him  as  soon  as  he  shows  his 
heels." 

"  I  will  do  my  best,  sir." 

The  young  man  touched  his  cap  and  retired  to  his 
station  amidships. 

'"  The  boats  have  overhauled  the  privateer's  launches, 
sir,  and  are  towing  them  down,"  reported  the  first 
lieutenant  at  this  juncture. 

"We  can't  wait  for  them,  Mr.  Haskins.  Signal 
them  to  follow  in  our  wake.  Ah,  I  see  that  fellow  has 
waked  up  at  last.  He's  heading  for  the  Northwest 
Channel.  That  means  he's  bound  for  Nassau.  Loaded 
to  the  decks  with  cotton,  I  guess.  What  a  prize  he'll 
make  !" 

And  Captain  Graham  rubbed  his  hands  gleefully. 

The  Avenger  was  run  up  to  top  speed,  and  for  that 
matter  so  was  the  chase,  for  great  clouds  of  black 
sm^ke  issued  from  her  funnel,  and  a  long  streak  of 
foam  was  churned  up  by  her  screw. 

"  Let  her  have  the  pivot  gun,"  exclaimed  the  com- 
mander. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  137 

Bertham  sighted  the  gun  carefully,  the  cruiser  being 
held  a  point  off  the  direct  course,  so  as  to  offer  no  hin- 
drance to  the  line  of  fire. 

The  lanyard  was  pulled,  and  a  shell. curved  into  the 
air,  and  finally  exploded  close  to  the  Foxhound's  stern. 

"  Good,"  cried  the  skipper.  "Another  like  that,  only 
a  little  closer,  will  disable  her  screw." 

''  The  captain  of  yonder  craft  has  wonderful  nerve, 
though  I  call  it  foolhardiness,  to  venture  so  close 
within  range  of  an  enemy,"  remarked  Mr.  Haskins. 

"  That's  Powell's  reputation  ;  he's  a  regular  dare- 
devil, they  say.  He  had  some  object  in  hanging  about 
here  and  taking  such  chances.  He's  a  faster  steamer 
than  the  Avenger,  and  will  get  away  as  it  is,  unless 
we  can  bring  him  to  with  a  shot." 

The  next  shell  exploded  high  above  the  blockade 
runner's  deck,  but  the  third  carried  away  the  raizzen- 
topniast. 

The  long  gun  was  worked  as  rapidly  as  possible,  but 
the  Foxhound  was  not  hit,  and  to  Benthara's  extreme 
vexation  was  gradually  drawing  away. 

Great  Abaco  light  was  now  visible  above  the  hori- 
zon, and  unless  something  was  shortly  done  the  block- 
ade runner  would  reach  the  safety  of  the  three-mile 
limit,  and  could  not  legally  be  overhauled. 

During  the  next  half  hour  three  shells  struck  the 
fleeing  steamer,  but  her  speed  was  not  affected  in^any 
way. 

Twenty  minutes  later  she  was  nearly  out  of  range 
and  fast  nearing  land,  so  the  captain  of  the  Avenger 
reluctantly  hauled  off  and  headed  back  over  his  course 
in  order  to  pick  up  his  boats. 

On  board  of  the  Foxhound  the  engines  were  pound- 


13ii  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

Ing  like  mad,  and  her  furnaces  were  packed  with  tar 
and  rosin. 

"  Ease  her,"  exclaimed  Captain  Powell  to  his  pilot, 
*' yonder  cruiser  has  given  up  the  chase  and  gone 
about." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  and  the  bell  in  the  engine-room  rang 
out  the  joyful  signal  to  slow  up. 

"  A  narrow  shave,  Powell ;  but  a  miss  is  as  good  as  a 
mile  any  day." 

The  speaker  was  a  fine-looking  man,  whose  face  was 
turned  seaward. 

"  I  should  have  been  very  sorry  if  this  had  turned 
out  disastrously,"  he  continued,  "since  I  am  respon- 
sible for  putting  3^ou  into  the  lion's  den,  so  to  speak. 
Had  you  not  laid  to  to  pick  me  up,  after  my  vessel  was 
knocked  out,  you  would  have  been  long  since  out  of 
reach  of  the  Yankee  fangs;  but  I  should  have  been  a 
prisoner  of  war.  I  assure  you  that  I  am  very  grateful 
for  your  kindness.  I  could  hardly  expect  another 
man  to  risk  so  much,  even  for  a  friend,  and  we,  sir, 
are  scarcely  acquaintances." 

"Say  no  more,  Captain  Powers;  I  am  glad  to  have 
had  an  opportunity  of  doing  you  a  service — not  to 
speak  of  cheating  the  Yankees  of  an  important  prisoner 
of  war." 

"  If  I  can  ever  return  the  favor,  command  me,"  said 
the  late  captain  of  the  Swiftwing. 

"  What  do  you  mean  to  do  now  ?"  said  Powell. 

"  Get  another  ship  and  pa}^  thera  back !"  was  the 
quick  reply,  as  the  speaker's  eyes  flashed  and  his 
hands  clinched  at  the  ends  of  his  gray  sleeves.  "  By 
my  soul!  Powell,  I  will  make  the  Yankees  suffer  for 
this  disaster." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  I39 

"  I  hope  you  will,  cap'n  ;  upon  my  soul  I  do." 

"  1  forgot  to  tell  you  that  the  man  you  brought  over 
from  France,  Bob  Bentham,  is  chief  gunner  on  yon- 
der cruiser." 

"How  do  you  know  that?"  said  Powell,  not  a  little 
astonished. 

"  1  liave  means  of  learning  many  things  that  it  is  to 
my  interest  to  be  informed  of.  Mr.  Mowbray's  instruc- 
tions included  positive  orders  to  hunt  out  the  craft 
that  his  nephew  went  to  sea  in,  and  unless  she  proved 
to  be  of^much  superior  force  I  was  to  engage  her  at 
all  hazards,  and  if  possible  put  an  end  to  that  young 
man's  career." 

"You  surprise  me,"  said  Powell. 

"Well,  when  1  left  Wilmington,  I  found  that  the 
Swiftwing  was  unseaworthy.  Mowbray  had  evidently 
been  imposed  upon  when  he  purchased  the  vessel.  I 
was  forced  to  put  into  Nassau  for  safety.  The  priva- 
teer underwent  a  thorough  examination  in  dry  dock 
and  was  overhauled  and  put  into  Al  condition.  I  also 
obtained  a  heavier  deck  battery.  In  the  meantime  I 
was  expecting  intelligence  regarding  Bentham's  move- 
ments. Yesterday  I  got  a  letter  saying  that  this 
young  man  had  been  appointed  to  the  Avenger — ^a 
fast  steam  cruiser  of  the  third  class,  intended  to  over- 
haul the  more  important  Confederate  privateers. 
Like  the  Swiftwing  she  carried  a  broadside  of  four 
heavy  guns,  and  a  long  rifled  Parrott  in  the  waist. 
There  was  not  much  difference  in  the  armament  of 
either  vessel,  so  I  felt  easy  in  my  mind  about  tackling 
her.  My  surprise,  however,  was  great  to  run  athwart 
her  so  soon.     My  only  regret  is  that  I  lost  the  day." 

"  It  was  a  most  unfortunate  Waterloo  for  you,"  said 
Powell. 


140  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNEB. 

"  What  galls  rae  is  that  Benthara  is  aware  that  I 
commanded  the  Svviftwing,  He  bears  me  no  good 
will,  and  the  sinking  of  my  vessel  must  have  sent  joy 
to  his  soul.  But  I  will  bide  my  time,  and  ere  long  I 
hope  to  return  the  compliment  with  interest." 

"To  which  I  respond  amen,  since  the  object  of  your 
animosity  is  a  Yankee.  Aside  from  that  fact  I  must 
admit  I  admire  that  young  Bentham  for  his  courage 
and  firmness  in  the  hour  of  peril.  But  for  him  the 
Foxhound's  ribs  would  now  be  ornamenting  the  shoals 
off  Wilmington,  and  the  Confederate  government 
would  have  been  poorer  by  a  couple  of  million  dollars 
worth  of  war  material.'" 

There  was  a  pause  in.  the  conversation. 

Since  that  terrible  affair  in  the  cabin,  which  I  spoke 
to  you  about,  the  murder  of  Mr.  Mowbra.y  by  Flash 
Gilmor,  ill  fortune  has  been  our  luck.  We've  been 
storm-struck  for  three  days,  but  for  which  we  had 
now  been  at  Nassau  unloading  our  cotton  and  figuring 
upon  a  fresh  run." 

"  I  wish  I  had  Flash  Gilmor  here  !"  hissed  Powers. 
"  I'd  hang  him  to  your  yard-arm,  Powell,  and  if  you 
interfered,  by  Jove  !  I'd  take  your  life !  You  were 
going  to  convey  him  to  Nassau  ?" 

''Yes.  At  Nassau  I  would  have  turned  him  over  to 
the  authorities,  and  he  would  have  been  hustled  back 
to  Wilmington.     But  he  got  away." 

"  Unaided  ?"  And  Powers  fixed  his  dark  eyes  on 
the  captain  of  the  Foxhound. 

"  I  am  afraid  no,"  was  the  answer,  in  a  lower  tone. 
"  Captain  Powers,  1  haven't  the  same  crew  I  once  had. 
When  I  recruited  after  my  last  tussle  with  the  block- 
aders,    I    was    compelled    to    take     some    doubtful 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER,  141 

characters.  I  dared  not  investigate  Flash  Gilmor's 
escape  on  the  high  seas.  When  I  get  to  Nassau  I 
shall  discharge  my  bad  men  and  get  better  ones.  I 
tell  you  that  Gihnor  had  assistance.  It  was  a  cold- 
blooded crime." 

"  Not  perpetrated  in  self-defense,  then  ?" 

"  No !  I  believe  he  came  on  board  disguised  as  a 
Confederate  agent  for  a  dark  purpose.  He  knew  that 
he  could  never  make  Norah  his  wife  while  Mowbray 
lived.  The  old  man  hated  him  as  he  hated  the 
North." 

Powers  was  silent  for  a  moment. 

"  How  does  Norah  seem  ?"  he  asked  at  length. 

"  I  don't  see  her  often  ;  she  keeps  her  stateroom," 
was  Powell's  answer.  ''  During  the  fight  this  evening 
she  sent  the  steward  up  to  ask  we  what  it  all  -meant. 
That  was  the  first  I'd  heard  from  her  to-day." 

"  With  your  permission  I'll  go  down  and  see  her," 
said  Captain  Powers  eagerly. 

Powell  made  no  reply. 

"  Do  you  object,  Captain  Powell  ?"  inquired  the 
Confederate  officer,  somewhat  taken  aback  by  his 
companion's  silence. 

"  You  promise  not  to  excite  her  ?" 

"  Certainly,  sir.'  I  might  say  I  have  a  right  to  an 
interview  since,  with  her  late  father's  consent,  I  am  a 
suitor  for  her  hand." 

"  Oh,  is  it  possible,"  said  Powell.  "  The  steward 
will  show  you  her  stateroom  ;  but  for  all  that  she 
may  not  receive  you." 

"  Oh,  that  is  ray  risk,  of  course,"  said  the  handsome 
ofiicer  as  he  turned  away  and  went  down  the  com- 
panion-way. 


l^Z  TH3  BLOCKADE  B'UNNBR. 

Captain  Powell  paced  his  deck  in  silence,  thinking 
probably  of  his  good  fortune  in  getting  back  to  j^assau 
with  a  valuable  load  of  cotton. 

As  he  was  a  large  owner  in  the  Foxhound,  it  may 
be  reasonably  surmised  that  having  made  nine  round 
trips  he  was  very  comfortably  jBxed — ^very  rich  in  fact. 

His  home  was  at  Nassau,  where  he  lived  in  an  unos- 
tentatious manner  when  on  shore. 

His  niece,  Miss  Dora  Maxwell,  kept  house  for  him, 
in  a  charming  little  cottage  in  the  suburbs. 

He  knew  she  was  eagerly  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the 
Foxhound,  for  he  had  been  away  an  unusually  long 
time — his  trip  to  Europe  and  return  having  occupied 
many  weeks,  and  his  delay  at  Wilmington  several 
more — so  that  it  was  quite  four  months  since  he  last 
saw  the  only  relative  he  had  in  the  world. 

Perhaps  Captain  Powell  was  also  thinking  how  he 
would  excuse  himself  in  the  matter  of  Flash  Gilmor's 
escape  in  an  open  boat  on  the  night  of  his  dastardly 
crime. 

But  he  was  not  to  blame  for  that. 

The  murderer  had  been  manacled  and  secured  below 
decks. 

He  could  not  have  escaped  without  outside  assist- 
ance, and  this  he  had,  as  the  captain  had  indicated  to 
Captain  Powers. 

Indeed,  Flash  Gilmor  had  many  accomplices  on 
board,  whom  he  was  taking  to  Nassau  in  his  pay,  and 
for  a  purpose  of  his  own  not  shown  on  the  surface. 

The  identity  of  these  fellows  was  suspected,  but 
could  not  be  proven,  and  therefore  nothing  could  bo 
done  in  the  matter. 

While  the  skipper  of  the  Foxhound  was  pacing  the 


THE  BL0CKAB:E  RWNNER.  143 

weather  side  of  his  quarter-deck,  Captain  Dick  Powers 
sought  the  steward  and  was  shown  to  the  stateroom 
occupied  by  Miss  Norah  Mowbray. 

He  knocked  for  admission. 

After  a  moment  or  two  he  heard  a  light  footstep, 
which  set  his  heart  beating. 

"Who  is  there?"  said  a  sadly  sweet  voice. 

"A  friend,"  said  Captain  Powers. 

"I  don't  recognize  your  voice,  sir." 

*'  I  have  only  just  come  on  board,  Miss  Mowbray. 
I  am  here  with  Captain  Powell's  permission." 

There  was  a  pause,  and  then  the  door  was  cautiously 
opened,  showing  the  faultless  figure  of  the  late  Gordon 
Mowbray's  ward. 

As  her  e3'es  fell  on  the  face  of  her  visitor  she  started. 

" Merciful  heavens !"  she  exclaimed,  "it  is  Captain 
Powers  1" 


1 44  THE  BLOCKADE  B  UNNER. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE    privateer's    OATH. 

NoRAH  stood,  pale-faced  and  full  of  emotion,  in  Cap- 
tain Powers'  presence. 

Neither  seemed  disposed  to  break  the  silence  that 
had  followed  the  girl's  last  words. 

Finally  the  Confederate  officer  said  : 

"  I  have  heard  the  sad  news,  and  I  deeply  regret  the 
villain's  escape.  I  shall  follow^  him  and  avenge  your 
father's  death," 

"  No,"  said  Norah  gently,  but  with  great  firmness. 
"Leave  him  to  the  vengeance  of  jleaven.  It  will 
overtake  him  in  its  own  good  time.  From  whence  did 
you  come?     Am  I  near  the  Swiftwing?" 

"  Alas !  no,"  answered  Powers,  his  brow  darkening 
at  thought  of  the  privateer's  destruction,  "  We  met 
with  the  enemy,  and  the  Swiftuing  is  at  the  bottom 
of  the  sea." 

"It  is  well  that  he  did  not  live  to  hear  your  report, 
for  he  expected  great  things  of  the  ship — and  of  the 
commander,"  she  added,  with  the  faintest  of  smiles. 

Powers  did  not  answer  for  a  moment, 

"Never  mind!"  he  suddenly  cried,  "In  another 
vessel  I  will  retrieve  our  fortunes,  and  the  victory 
gained  by  our  foes  over  the  Swift  wing  shall  prove  the 
dearest  one  of  their  lives.  I  am  Captain  Powell's  pas- 
senger to  Nassau.     When  I  leave  that  port  I  will  be 


THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNER.  145 

on  the  quarter-deck  of  a  new  Destroyer — which  shall 
literally  sweep  the  seas." 

He  spoke  these  words  in  the  voice  of  a  man  who 
loves  to  think  of  vengeance. 

Rage  leaped  from  the  depths  of  his  dark  eyes,  and 
he  stood  before  the  Southern  beauty  the  very  incarna- 
tion of  grim  resolution. 

All  the  while  the  Foxhound  was  flying  through  the 
waters  with  the  speed  of  a  gale.  Her  engines  sent 
her  swiftly  and  noiselessly  forward. 

So  well  was  she  balanced  on  the  waves,  and  so 
neatly  built,  that  to  Norah  in  her  cozy  little  stateroom 
she  was  not  moving  at  all. 

Never  before  had  the  girl  looked  so  lovely  to 
Powers. 

This  was  the  woman  whom  he  would  make  his  wife 
— the  beautiful  creature  whom  Mowbray  was  to  have 
given  hira  when  he  had  brushed  Bob  Bentham  from 
his  (Mowbray's)  path. 

Her  guardian  had  been  taken  away,  and  she  was 
thrown  upon  her  own  resources,  left  alone  in  the  world 
with  an  immense  fortune  and  an  unpledged  hand. 

These  things  passed  rapidly  through  the  Confederate 
captain's  mind. 

"  Your  journey  will  end  for  the  present  at  Nassau  ?" 
said  Powers,  half-questioningly,  fixing  his  eyes  on  his 
fair  auditor. 

"  It  will.  I  shall  remain  there  an  indefinite  length 
of  time — perhaps  until  the  close  of  the  war,"  was  the 
response. 

"  It  will  last  a  long  time," 

"  Perhaps." 

"  The  South  has  not  yet  taxed  her  full  strength.** 


146  THE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNER. 

"  Neither  has  the  national  government.  " 

Powers  could  not  avoid  noting  the  manner  of  her 
reply.     It  drew  a  stare  from  his  eyes. 

"I  see  that  my  words  have  surprised  you,"  said 
Norah,  "They  seem  to  tell  you  tliat  my  sympathies 
are  not  with  the  government  you  serve." 

"  They  indicate  this,  but  I  have  not  interpreted  your 
words  correctly.  You  have  grown  up  under  Gordon 
Mowbray's  roof,  and  your  hopes  cannot  be  elsewhere 
than  with  the  South." 

"  Pardon  me,  sir,  but  if  I  have  grown  up  as  you  say 
under  the  Mowbray  roof,  I  have  had  thoughts — senti- 
ments of  my  own.  This  is  not  the  proper  place  for 
an  open  avowal  of  sentiments  which  you  may  call 
treason,  but  since  we  have  advanced  to  where  we 
stand,  let  me  say  that  the  movement  of  secession  Hnds 
no  sympathy  with  me.  I  am  for  the  old  flag;  my 
heart,  my  hopes,  and  m^'  wishes  are  with  the  Union." 

A  silence  followed  the  girl's  last'  words. 

Captain  Powers  appeared  thunderstruck. 

"Then  the  loss  of  the  Swiftwing  occasions  no 
regrets  in  your  bosom,"  he  said,  coloring.  "  Recollect 
that  its  loss  shortens  your  fortune  by  almost  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  dollars," 

"  The  men  who  sunk  with  the  vessel  have  my  tears,'* 
she  said  softly  ;  "but  the  loss  of  the  money  invested 
in  her  I  do  not  regret.  You  will  say  that  ray  avowed 
sentiments  will  deprive  me  of  the  estate  which  would 
naturally  come  into  my  possession  by  mj'  father's 
death  ;  that  it  will  be  confiscated  by  the  Confederate 
government.  He  left  no  will,  but  many  things  have 
been  understood  for  years.     Captain  Powers,  I  shall 


I'HE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNEB.  147 

not  lift  a  finger  to  retain  those  possessions.  Let  the 
Confederacy  take  them.  My  father's  whole  soul  was 
wrapped  up  in  the  Southern  cause  ;  he  would  have 
beo-ffared  himself  for  it.  Men— his  enemies — would 
have  made  out  that  he  wavered,  that  his  heart  was  not 
in  the  cause  ;  but  a  truer  man  to  the  South  than  he 
never  lived.  He  will  not  see  the  humiliation  of  the 
government  you  serve,  Captain  Powers;  therefore  it 
is  well,  perhaps,  that  the  blue  sea  covers  him.'' 

"It  is  well,  too,  that  he  has  not  lived  to  ,see  you 
arrayed  on  the  side  of  the  power  he  so  cordially  hated," 
said  Powers  bitterh'.  "  You  will  not  find  any  l^orth- 
ern  sentiment  prevailing  at  Nassau." 

"  I  shall  not  court  society  of  any  kind  while  there," 
was  the  gentle  answer.  "  You  forget.  Captain  Pow- 
ers, that  the  terrible  deed  committed  on  board  this  ship 
has  darkened  more  than  one  page  of  my  life  history. 
I  loved  Gordon  Mowbray,  and  to-night  I  throw  the 
mantle  of  charity  upon  his  faults." 

Norah's  eyes  became  suffused  with  tears  as  she  fin- 
ished. 

Captain  Powers  watched  her  wdth  the  eyes  of  the 
eagle  that  sees  a  dove  in  his  power. 

He  threw  a  rapid  glance  over  his  shoulder  and 
stepped  forward. 

"Ah  !  if  you  would  but  bestow  upon  others  a  tithe 
of  the  love  he  drew  from  you !"  he  said,  in  tones  that 
lifted  the  girl's  gaze  to  his  face, 

"  What  do  you  mean  "' 

"  Have  you  been  blind  till  this  time  ?"  was  the  quick, 
passionate  response.  "  Norah,  I  stand  before  "you  a 
self-confessed  lover.  I  have  loved  3'ou  with  all  the 
depth  and  the  ardor  of  my  soul,  and  I  here,  for  the 


148  THE  BLOCKADE  liVJS NEB. 

first  time,  trust  my  lips  with  the  deelaration.  I  have 
Mowbray's  jDromise,  but  I  would  win  you  myself." 

Norah's  look  checked  him. 

"  Was  not  that  promise  a  bargain  as  well  ?"  she 
asked. 

Captain  Powers  started. 

"  Come,"  she  continued,  smiling.  "  Confess,  Captain 
Powers,  that  you  were  to  have  me  for  certain  work 
on  the  high  seas.  Ah !  I  know  a  good  deal  about  the 
purpose  of  the  Swiftwing.  There  were  secrets  in 
Mowbray  House,  but  some  were  not  well  kept.  It  was 
a  bargain  as  well  as  a  promise." 

The  captain  stood  perplexed  in  the  fair  creature's 
presence,  but  his  audacity  came  to  the  rescue. 

"  Promise  or  bargain,  it  may  yet  be  kept,"  he  ex- 
claimed. 

"Sir?" 

"  I  would  not  be  misunderstood  now,  not  for  the 
world !"  he  continued  quickly.  "  You  have  not  an- 
swered my  declaration  of  love " 

"Need  I  answer?" 

"It  is  not  necessary  ;"  and  his  lips  closed  behind  the 
last  word.  "  It  was  the  desire  of  the  dead  that  you 
should  become  my  wife,  Norah,  and  my  life  mission 
shall  be  to  fulfill  it.  My  love  for  you  is  not  abated 
by  our  meeting  to-night ;  it  has  become  intensified.  I 
like  a  hard  conquest,  a  wellrfought  battle,  where  there 
is  much  at  stake.  I  shall  make  you  my  wife !  I  shall 
trinmpb  in  this  tilt  for  a  heart  at  the  altar!" 

Norah's  eyes  flashed  defiance  before  she  replied. 
They  accepted  his  challenge. 

"Captain  Powers,  I  am  not  surprised  at  your  words," 
she  said,  assuming  a  calmness  which  she  evidently  did 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  149 

not  possess.  "  They  are  the  natural  outgrowth  of  de- 
sires nursed  in  secret,  but  boldly  proclaimed  to  a  young 
girl  whom  murder  has  left  unprotected.  So  you  will 
make  me  your  wife  ?  We  will  stand  at  an  altar  deco- 
rated with  the  Confederate  flags,  while  pasons  of  vic- 
tory float  skyward  over  the  ruins  of  the  Federal  Union  ! 
This  is  one  of  your  dreams,  I  suppose.  Let  me  break 
it ;  for  I  say  here  that  hour  of  your  triumph  will  never 
come  !  I  will  never,  never,  become  your  wife.  The 
promise  and  the  bargain  must  fall  fruitless  to  the 
ground." 

Captain  Powers  could  not  but  admire  the  fair  girl 
who  spoke  these  words. 

She  stood  before  him  as  lovely  as  a  queen,  with 
courage  beaming  from  the  depths  of  her  deep,  sorrow- 
ful eyes,  and  with  her  figure  drawn  to  its  full  stature. 

The  captain  of  the  ill-fated  privateer  could  not  see 
the  stooped  figure  of  the  man  who  listened  on  the  out- 
side of  the  stateroom  door. 

"  By  Jove  !  I  carry  a  Yankee  lover  !"  ejaculated  the 
eavesdropper,  who  ha,d  a  figure  like  Captain  Powell's. 
"I  never  dreamed  that^old  Mowbray's  ward  would 
ever  think  of  such  a  thing.  What  will  Dick  Powers 
say  now  ?  I  think  the  girl  has  put  an  end  to  the 
argument." 

The  man  was  the  captain  of  the  Foxhound. 

A  minute's  silence  followed  Norah's  last  sentence. 

"  Oh,  we  will  see  who  wins !"  suddenly  exclaimed 
Powers.  "Do  not  think  that  I  expect  to  lose  the 
game.  Gordon  Mowbray  was  niy  friend.  I  respect 
the  promise  of  the  dead,  and  I  swear  to-night  on  the 
deep,  blue  waters  of  this  tropical  sea  that  Gordon 
Mowbray's  last  oath  shall  be  kept." 


150  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

A  defiant  laugh  was  the  girl's  only  reply. 
"You  fling  down  the  gauntlet,  my  beauty;  "but  it 
only  goads  me  forward  to  victory  !"  he  said.  "  I  know 
where  your  heart  is,  but  I  will  cross  swords  with  Bob 
Bentham  on  his  ow^n  deck  ere  long  and  show  him  that 
the  arm  he  struck  down  on  the  banks  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River  can  deal  blows  of  vengeance.  Love  and  live  for 
him,  if  you  will.  Here  in  Nassau  you  will  find  few 
whose  hearts  beat  for  our  enemies.  To  this  place 
Bentham  dare  not  come.  Ah,  the  coward!  he  will 
keep  behind  iron  plates  and  surround  himself  with 
ten-inch  guns  !  I  long  to  meet  him  !  I  will  find  him 
if  I  have  to  seek  him  in  the  midst  of  a  Yankee  fleet." 
"-He  will  not  shun  the  meeting — be  sure  of  that, 
Captain  Bowers,"  said  the  girl  calmly.  "  Look  out — 
he  might  turn  hunter  himsetf.  Stranger  things  than 
this  have  happened," 

Captain  Bowers  vouchsafed  no  reply,  but  iurned 
suddenly  toward  the  door. 

"  Good-night,"  he  said,  as  he  reached  the  threshold. 
"  I  will  keep  my  oath  !  You  shall  become  the  wife  of 
Captain  Bowers  yet." 

He  flung  wide  the  door  as  he  concluded,  and  so  sud- 
denly that  the  eavesdropper  on  the  outside  failed  to 
escape  discovery, 

"What!  a  listener?"  exclaimed  Bowers,  springing 
madly  after  the  Foxhound's  captain,  whom  he  quickly 
overtook,  and  whirled  until  they  stood  face  to  face. 
"  By  my  soul !  it  is  Bo  well !" 

"  It  is  Bowell !"  echoed  the  blockade  runner.  "  I 
owe  you  no  apology,  captain.  I  gave  you  orders 
when  you  left  me  not  to  excite  that  young  girl,  and  I 
followed  you  to  see  that  my  orders  were  obeyed." 


TEE  BLOCKADE  BUNl^ER.  151 

"Well?" 

The  one  word  was  accompanied  by  an  eye  challeno-e. 

"  You  touched  forbidden  ground,  but  the  girl  stood 
it  bravely.  She's  more  than  a  match  for  you,  captain. 
You'll  never  win  her  !" 

"  By  heavens  !  I  will !"  was  the  quick  retort.  '■  ^ 
have  never  failed  in  a  love  affair,  and  I've  had  laoie 
than  one.  If  you  say  so,  Powell,  Til  go  back,  and'  re- 
peat ray  oath,  sealing  it  with  a  kiss." 

"  Not  while  she  is  my  passenger  ?"  exclaimed  Poweil. 
"  You  have  said  enough  to  her  to-night — more  than  I 
think  a  gentleman  would  have  said.  This  is  my  ship, 
captain,  and  Norah  is  my  passenger.  She's  Yankee 
in  sentiment,  but  she  has  a  right  to  think  as  she 
pleases.  I  say  you  shan't  disturb  her  any  more.  Her 
stateroom  is  to  be  invaded  no  more  twixt  here  and 
port." 

Captain  Powers  stared  into  the  speaker's  face  re- 
vealed by  the  ship's  lantern  that  swung  overhead. 

Powell  was  desperately  in  earnest. 

"  Ho — ho,  Powell !"  he  laughed,  almost  boisterow:- 
ly,  "  I've  a  motion  to  go  back  just  to  try  you." 

"  You'd  better  not !"  and  Captain  Powell's  hand 
touched  Powers'  arm.  "There  are  some  things  3'ou 
can't  do  on  board  this  ship.  I  am  master  here.  When 
you  rouse  me,  you  stir  up  a  tiger  !" 

That  was  the  end  of  it. 

Powers  did  not  go  back. 


152  TEE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNER. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


DOEA     AND    NOR  AH. 


The  Foxhound  continued  her  course  until  Nassau 
was  reached. 

Threatened  by  Captain  Powell's  look  and  voice, 
Dick  Powers  had  not  sought  a  second  interview  with 
Norah,  and  the  girl  kept  within  her  stateroom. 

Day  was  breaking  again  when  the  little  blockade 
runner  entered  the  port  with  the  Confederate  flag  fly- 
ing. She  soon  came  to  anchor,  and  Powell  went 
below  to  tell  Norah  that  the  city  had  been  reached. 

The  distressed  girl  received  him  with  a  smile,  glad 
to  know  that  she  was  to  leave  the  ship;  even  though 
she  was  about  to  take  up  her  residence  in  a  city  where 
but  few  hearts  beat  for  the  American  Union. 

As  Captain  Powell  assisted  her  politely  upon  deck 
her  eyes  sent  an  inquiring  glance  round  the  ship,  as 
though  she  sought  some  one. 

"  You  Avill  be  spared  the  sight  of  Captain  Powers," 
said  the  blockade  runner,  addressing  her.  "  He  bade 
me  a  hasty  good-by  twenty  minutes  ago,  and  has 
already  disappeared.  It  was  well  for  him  that  he 
went  no  further  than  he  did  last  night." 

"  You  were  near,  then  ?" 

Powell's  face  flushed. 

"I  was  at  the  door,"  he  said.  "  I  believe  it  is  the 
first  time  I  ever  played  eavesdropper  on  board  my 
own  shipj  but  I  had  told  Captain  Powers  that  you 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  153 

were  not  to  be  excited.  I  was  afraid  he  might  go  too 
far.     You  will  pardon  rae  for  listening,  Miss ?" 

"  Certainl}',"  smiled  ISTorah.  "  Captain  Powell,  you 
have  heard  me  declare  my  sentiments.  They  are  not 
in  accordance  with  3''ours." 

"  You've  a  full  right  to  them,"  answered  the  Con- 
federate quickly.  "  I'm  a  full-blooded  Confederate, 
Miss  Norah.  I  would  sink  every  Yankee  ship  afloat 
if  I  had  the  -power,  but  I  never  begrudge  a  woman  her 
sentiments— never!  Of  course  I  did  not  expect  to 
hear  you  talk  as  you  have,  since  you  were  raised  un- 
der Mowbray's  roof  ;  but  if  you  like  the  old  flag  better 
than  the  new  one,  why,  stick  to  it." 

Norah  was  about  to  repl}?^,  thanking  Captain  Powell 
for  his  words ;  but  they  had  reached  the  ship's  side, 
and  were  about  to  descend  to  the  boat  waiting  for 
them  on  the  cahii  waters  of  the  ba3^ 

"Have  you  any  acquaintances  in  Nassau  ?"  he  asked 
of  Norah,  as  the  boat  put  off. 

"None  at  all.     1  come  to  the  city  a  stranger  " 

Powell  seemed  to  reflect  a  moment. 

"  Would  you  let  me  recommend  a  friend  ?"  he   said. 

"  Indeed  I  would,  and  thank  you  besides." 

"  I  have  a  niece  here — a  young  lady  about  your  age," 
he  continued.  "  I  am  sure  you  two  would  get  along 
famously  together.  Dora  was  raised  in  the  tropics, 
and  I  call  her  a  real  tropic  flower.  She  will  talk  what 
you  might  call  treason,  Norah  ;  but  for  all  that  you'll 
like  her," 

Norah  was  much  delighted  to  know  that  she  would 
not  be  isolated  in  a  strange  land. 

Sbe  believed  she  would  like  Captain  Powell's  niece, 
and  longed  to  meet  her. 


154  ^ii^  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

She  thus  expressed  herself  to  the  blockade  runner, 
who  seemed  delighted,  and  a  few  minutes  later  Norah 
was  in  Nassau. 

The  arrival  of  the  Foxhound  had  attracted  quite  a 
crowd  of  people  to  the  quay,  and  the  sight  of  a  young 
and  handsome  woman  in  the  captain's  boat  caused  a 
-murmur  of  speculation  to  float  from  lip  to  lip. 

The  fair  young  girl  stood  the  stares  of  the  crowd  for 
some  time  without  complaining. 

At  length  she  turned  to  Captain  Powell  with  a 
smile : 

"  Do  they  always  stare  thus  at  your  passengers, 
captain  ?"  she  asked. 

"  Bless  you  !  no,  girl.  A  lady  passenger  on  board 
the  Foxhound  is,  indeed,  a  novelty.  They  all  know 
Dora,  and  they  are  wondering  whether  or  not  you  are 
to  supplant  her  in  my  heart." 

Norah  met  Captain  Powell's   glance    with  £\,  blush, 

seeing  which  the  blockade  runner  broke  into  a  laugh. 

"iSTo  harm  intended  at  any   rate,  Norah,"  he  said. 

"Dora  is  the  only  woman  who  can  have  Powell's  love. 

We  will  see  her  soon." 

The  people  cheered  Powell  as  he  passed  along  ;  for 
he  was  known  as  the  most  daring  as  well  as  the  most 
successful  blockade  runner  sailing  from  Nassau. 

Many  a  rich  cargo  had  he  conveyed  to  the  Con- 
federates. 

His  daring  ventures  had  brought  much  gold  to 
Nassau,  and,  if  the  war  lasted  many  months,  he  would 
enrich  many  of  her  citizens. 

"  They  rather  like  the  old  blockade  runner  here," 
he  smiled  to  Norah,  as  he  lifted  his  cap  in  response  to 
the  plaudits  of  the  crowd. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  155 

The  young  girl  did  not  reply. 

At  that  moment  she  had  caught  sight  of  a  pair  of 
dark  eyes  fastened  upon  her  like  the  orbs  of  a  basilisk. 

They  were  just  raised  above  the  shoulder  of  a  man, 
so  that  she  could  not  see  the  lower  part  of  the  face. 

A  strange  and  nameless  thrill  shot  to  ISTorah's  heart 
while  the  eyes  regarded  her,  and  she  was  returning 
their  glare  with  a  questioning  look  when  Captain 
Powell  spoke  the  words  last  recorded. 

Did  the  blockade  runner  notice  the  eyes  ? 

He  glanced  at  Norah,  wondering  why  she  had  not 
replied,  and  his  look  wandered  back  to  the  crowd 
through  which  the}'^  were  still  passing. 

Presently  the  evil  black  eyes  vanished,  perhaps  be- 
cause Norah  had  passed  on,  but  she  could  not  forget 
thera. 

They  had  welcomed  her  to  Nassau  in  a  manner  not 
at  all  desirable.     Had  she  ever  seen  them  before  ? 

The  fair  girl  thought  of  Flash  Gilmor  and  shivered. 

Not  long  afterward  Captain  PoweU  rapped  on  the 
door  of  a  small  frame  house  which  had  a  beautiful 
little  flower  garden  in  front,  and  a  moment  later  a 
vision  of  loveliness  appeared  on  the  threshold. 

A  sylph's  figure  and  a  houri's  face — that  is  what 
appeared  to  Norah. 

We  would  describe  the  person  as  a  tall  young  girl 
©f  eighteen,  with  a  soft  olive  complexion,  black  hair,, 
and  large  lustrous  eyes,  such  as  one  often  meets  with 
in  the  tropics. 

She  greeted  the  blockade  runner  with  an  exclama- 
tion of  joy  which  soon  became  an  enthusiastic  wel- 
come; but  in  the  midst  of  her  demonstrations  she 
suddenly  caught  sight  of  Norah  and  started. 


156  TEE  BLOCKADE  B  UNNER. 

"  I  have  brought  you  a  companion,  Dora,"  said 
Powell,  glancing  at  Norah. 

"A  companion  and  a  friend;  how  glad  I  am!"  ex- 
claimed Dora,  turning  from  Powell  and  grasping  No- 
rah's  hands,  while  she  drew  near  for  a  kiss.  "  We  will 
be  friends  forever !  I  have  been  lonely  a  long  time, 
and  you  could  have  brought  me  no  grander  present 
than  this  friend.  Uncle  Ealph." 

Powell  smiled  proudly  as  the  two  girls  embraced, 
and  Dora,  clinging  to  Nora's  hand,  led  the  way  into 
the  house. 

The  interior  of  the  building  was  in  keeping  with  the 
outside-;  exotic  plants  and  flowers  everywhere,  and  on 
every  hand  a  certain  beauty  and  neatness  which  pro- 
claimed loving  woman's  rule. 

Norah  v/as  soon  left  alone  with  her  new  acquaint- 
ance, for  Powell  left  to  go  back  to  the  ship,  where  he 
knew  ho  would  be  wanted  to  pay  oif  the  men  whom 
he  expected  to  discharge. 

The  two  girls  sat  in  the  cosy  room  that  looked  out 
upon  the  street,  Dora  still  touching  ISTorah's  hand  ten- 
derly and  gazing  with  sisterly  affection  into   her  face. 

"  Now,  tell  me  all,"  she  said,  in  a  tone  which  drew 
from  Mowbray's  ward  a  full  recital  of  her  life  since 
leaving  Wilmington. 

Dora  listened  without  once  interrupting  her  fair 
narrator.  She  breathlessly  followed  her,  word  by 
word,  and  sat  silent  for  a  moment  after  the  story. 

"  I  know  this  Plash  Gilmor,"  w^ere  Dora's  first 
words,  spoken  in  a  tone  that  startled  Norah.  "  I 
have  seen  the  ruflSan !"  and  the  girl's  small  hands 
clinched.  Let  us  hope  that  the  waters  ingulfed  him 
and    the    boat    he    stole;    that   the    ocean    aveno^ed 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  157 

your  father's  death.  Once  I  was  seated  at  this  very 
window,  looking  out  upon  the  street,  half  dreaming, 
half  dozing.  It  was  a  lovely  day,  like  the  many  we 
have  in  Nassau.  All  at  once  a  pair  of  eyes  became 
fixed  upon  me.  I  saw  them  peering  through  the  plants 
in  the  window  like  the  e\^es  of  a  snake.  1  could  not 
think  that  they  belonged  to  a  man,  yet  I  knew  that 
they  were  not  a  serpent's  orbs.  I  leaned  forward,  in- 
tending to  bid  the  intruder  begone,  when  a  young  man 
doffed  his  hat  and  bowed.  That  was  my  introduction 
to  Flash  Gilmor.  I  afterward  discovered  that  he  had 
come  to  Nassau  in  a  blockade  runner  for  the  purpose 
of  winning  a  bet  which  he  had  made  at  Charleston — 
that  he  would  marry  Captain  Powell's  niece  within 
three  months." 

Nora  could  hardly  repress  an  exclamation  of  sur- 
prise. 

"  You.  may  be  sure  that  he  lost  his  money,"  contin- 
ued Dora,  with  a  laugh.  "  He  would  have  entered 
this  house  then  if  I  had  not  given  Pedro,  my  Spanish 
servant,  orders  to  let  no  serpents  cross  the  threshold. 
I  spoke  the  command  in  a  tone  intended  solely  for 
Flash  Gilmor's  ears,  and  he  shrunk  away  abashed.  He 
came  back,  however,  and  let  slip  no  opportunity  of 
throwing  himself  in  my  path  ;  but  I  made  him  the 
laughing  stock  of  Nassau  until  a  Confederate  vessel 
carried  him  away„  Since  then  I  have  not  seen  him, 
and  your  mention  of  him,  Norah,  has  been  the  fii^st 
time  I  have  heard  his  name  spoken  for  many  a, 
week." 

The  two  girls  continued  to  converse  until  a  servant 
called  Dora  from  the  parlor,  leaving  Norah  alone. 

Mowbray's  ward  arose  and  went  to  the  window  for 


158  TEB  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

the  purpose  of  inspecting  a  rare  flower,  which  had 
commanded  her  praise  for  several  minutes. 

She  soon  found  herself  admiring  the  profusion  of 
exotics  that  bloomed  around  her,  filling  the  whole 
room  with  their  fragrance,  and  forming  a  bower  of 
great  beauty. 

An  exclamation  escaped  Korah's  lips  as  she  caught 
sight  of  a  flower,  the  most  beautiful  of  all  she  had  yet 
seen  ;  but  it  hung  out  of  the  window,  yet  within 
reach. 

Norah  leaned  forward  to  lift  the  flower  gently,  in 
order  that  she  might  become  fully  acquainted  with  its 
exquisite  loveliness. 

All  at  once  a  hand  encircled  her  waist,  and  the  form 
of  a  man  rose  before  her. 

A  glance  showed  the  girl  his  handsome  face  and 
evil  black  eyes. 

A  wild  cry  pealed  from  her  throat,  and  the  next 
moment  she  had  fallen  to  the  floor  in  a  swoon,  ia 
which  state  Dora  found  her  a  few  moments  later. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  159 


CHAPTEK  XIX. 

CAPTAIN    POWELL    KEEPS    HIS    OATH. 

After  the  fruitless  chase  of  the  Foxhound,  Captain 
Graham  picked  up  his  boats,  and  laid  his  course  for 
Charleston  to  report  to  the  admiral  of  the  station  the 
result  of  his  first  marine  duel,  and  to  deliver  his  pris- 
oners that  they  might  be  sent  North. 

He  was  in  particular  good  humor,  for  the  first  clause 
in  his  sealed  instructions,  directing  him  to  hang  about 
the  Bahamas  and  capture  or  destroy  the  steamer  Swift- 
wing,  before  she  could  get  away  upon  her  lawless 
errand,  had  been  fulfilled  to  the  letter. 

The  Avenger  had  been  roughly  handled  in  the  late 
fight,  but  not  so  badly  but  the  carpenters  and 
machinists  on  board  could  soon  repair  all  damages. 

But  some  things  were  bej'^ond  repair — a  dozen  hardy 
Yankee  tars  lay  on  the  lower  deck  in  a  row  sewed  up 
in  their  hammocks  ready  for  the  solemn  service  that 
was  presently  to  consign  them  to  the  universal  watery 
churchyard  where  no  tombstones  mark  the  last  resting 
places  of  many  thousands  of  the  wanderers  on  the 
trackless  deep. 

It  was  on  the  evening  of  the  day  following  that  the 
Avenger  approached  the  Yankee  squadron  off  Charles- 
ton. 

It  was  pretty  dark  on  the  water,  as  the  sky  was 
overcast  by  clouds,  and  a  half-gale  was  blowing,  kick- 
ing up  a  tolerably  nasty  sea. 


100  THE.  BLOCKADE  R  UNNEB. 

The  first  intimation  that  Captain  Graham  had  of 
the  immediate  presence  of  the  blockading  fleet  was  a 
rocket  sent  up  by  a  vigilant  gunboat. 

It  was  green  and  red,  signifying  in  the  signal  code 
that  a  suspicious  steamer  was  in  sight.  Of  course  this 
meant  the  Avenger. 

Shortly  afterward  a  blue  light  was  to  be  seen 
directly  ahead  from  another  craft,  and  as  soon  as  it 
burned  out  three  lanterns  appeared  in  the  rigging  in 
the  form  of  a  triangle — a  red  one  at  the  top  and  a 
white  and  a  green  one  at  the  bottom. 

Captain  Graham  had  no  need  to  call  for  his  code  to 
interpret  this  signal — as  plain  as  a  pikestaff  it  read  to 
his  eye  "  who  are  you  V 

The  signal  ensign  was  immediately  instructed  to 
answer  it. 

Soon  after  the  Avenger  ran  close  to  the  "Firefly" 
gunboat. 

In  answer  to  Captain  Graham's  inquiry  for  the 
admiral  of  the  station,  he  was  directed  to  a  point  in- 
shore where  the  flagship — a  large  sailing  frigate — was 
snugl}^  anchored. 

The  Avenger  proceeded  slowly  landward  and  pres- 
ently made  out  the  big  cruiser,  with  her  frowning  tier 
of  guns  run  out  in  readiness  for  any  emergency. 

"  Steamer  ahoy  !"  came  a  sharp  hail  from  the  flag- 
ship, showing  that  the  lookouts  were  wide  awake. 

"  Ahoy  !"  replied  Captain  Graham. 

"  What  steamer  is  that  ?" 

"  Screw  steamer  Avenger,  Captain  Graham,  from 
the  Bahama  station.  Tell  the  admiral  that  I  am 
coming  on  board." 

"  Very  well,  sir." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNEE.  161 

Lights  flashed  on  the  deck  of  the  flagship  and 
preparations  made  to  receive  the  visitor  according  to 
his  rank. 

The  first  cutter  of  the  Avenger  was  piped  away, 
and  the  commander  of  the  cruiser  was  soon  in  the 
admiral's  cabin. 

Captain  Graham  found  that  august  personage 
making  himself  comfortable  over  a  whiskey  punch. 

The  report  made  by  the  cruiser's  captain  was  emi- 
nently satisfactory  to  the  admiral,  who  congratulated 
him  upon  his  success. 

As  the  Avenger  was  a  remarkably  fast  vessel  the 
admiral  said  he  would  take  the  liberty  of  supplement- 
ing the  instructions  of  the  Navy  Department,  by  order- 
ing Graham  to  delay  his  cruise  after  the  Shenandoah 
privateer,  and  give  attention  to  the  Foxhound  blockade 
runner. 

The  admiral  said  that  he  had  been  censured  in  com- 
mon with  his  brother  admiral  on  the  AVilmington 
station  for  their  want  of  success  in  putting  an  end  to 
this  particular  vessel,  which  continued  to  run  the  block- 
ade off  both  ports  with  the  greatest  impunity. 

He  said  Graham  must  watch  for  the  steamer,  and 
run  him  down  or  sink  him,  and  the  commander  of  the 
cruiser,  promising  to  do  his  best  in  the  matter,  took 
his  leave. 

About  noon  on  the  following  day  the  Avenger  got 
away  and  headed  straight  for  the  Northeast  passage  in 
the  Bahamas,  where  Captain  Graham  proposed  to  lie 
off  and  on  until  the  Foxhound  made  her  appearance 
from  Nassau  with  a  fresh  load  of  contraband  goods  on 
board. 

It  was  night  again  on  the  broad  expanse  of  the  trop- 


162  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

ical  sea,  about  three  weeks  after  the  incidents  already 
narrated. 

The  cruiser  Avenger  was  steaming  slowly  along  well 
inside  of  Great  Abaco  light. 

It  was  not  very  dark,  though  the  raoon  was  stiU  be- 
low the  horizon,  for  the  stars  were  out  in  all  their 
glory. 

"  She  won't  come  out  to-night,  that's  certain,"  said 
Bentham  to  Jupe,  with  whom  he  was  conversing,  while 
both  hung  over  the  starboard  bulwarks:  in  the  waist  of 
the  steamer. 

"  By  golly,  Marse  Bob,  I  dun  no  'bout  dat.  Dat  vera 
Powell  is  de  mos'  recklus  pusson  I  eber  know'd.  Ebery 
udder  skipper  hangs  buck  for  a  foggy  ebening,  but  dat 
Powell,  he  don't  seem  ter  care  a  snap.  De  Foxhound 
is  so  debblish  fast  dat  he  snap  him  fingers  at  de  cruisers 
here  'bouts,  and  come  an'  go  when  him  please.  I 
reckon  dat  him  bery  suah  ter  come  out  if  him  make  up 
him  mind  ter  do  so." 

"  Well,  if  he  does,  we'll  nab  him  as  sure  as  eggs  are; 
eggs." 

"  Golly,  I  hope  so,  sah." 

"  Steamer  ho  !"  came  pealing  down  from  the  foretop, 
startling  every  one  into  alertness. 

The  officer  of  the  deck  soon  learned  that  the  stranger 
was  several  miles  distant,  and  was  stealing  seaward^ 
close  under  the  lee  of  Eleuthera  island. 

Not  a  light  showed  aboard  of  her,  and  she  looked 
like  a  thin  black  moving  shadow  ;  indeed,  it  required 
very  sharp  eyes  indeed  to  make  her  out  at  all  until 
attention  was  called  to  the  spot. 

Several  night-glasses  were  leveled  at  her. 

"  I'll   bet   that's   the   Foxhound.     Powell   is  a  sly 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  163 

rascal,  and  calculates  that  we  won't  expect  him  on  such 
a  bright  night,"  said  Captain  G-raham  to  Mr.  Haskins, 
his  lieutenant.  "  Well,  we'll  have  to  cut  him  off  or 
he'll  get  away  again." 

The  cruiser's  nose  was  laid  for  a  certain  point  ahead 
of  the  strangei*,  and  Benthara  ordered  to  call  his  gun's 
crew  to  quarters. 

The  furnace  doors  in  the  hold  were  thrown  wide 
open,  and  the  slumbering  flames  fed  with  the  contents 
of  several  tar  barrels,  and  then  the  stokers  proceeded 
to  shovel  in  coal  at  a  lively  rate. 

The  Avenger  swooped  down  upon  her  prey  like  a 
falcon,  and  thoughts  of  prize  money  began  to  loom 
before  the  mental  vision  of  all  on  board. 

"  I'll  bet  dat's  hira  for  suah,  Massa  Bob,"  exclaimed 
Jupe,  as  he  laid  down  the  sponger  with  which  he  had 
been  cleaning  the  bore  of  the  huge  Parrott  rifle. 

"I  hope  so,"  returned  Bentham  earnestly. 

"  Golly,  we  is  gwine  ter  cut  him  off  dis  yere  time, 
an'  doan'  yer  ferget  it,"  .said  the  darky,  forgetting 
himself  in  his  joy  and  cutting  a  "  pigeon  wing  "  upon 
the  deck. 

Before  long  it  was  seen  that  the  stranger,  whoever 
he  was,  had  wore  round  and  turned  back  toward 
Kassau,  as  though  her  commander  had  concluded  now 
that  his  presence  was  discovered  that  it  was  too  risky 
to  run  out  to  sea,  and  was  acting  upon  the  maxim  that 
discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor. 

The  position  of  the  Avenger,  however,  was  such 
that  she  could  cut  the  distant  steamer  off  in  either 
direction,  or  at  least  come  within  easy  gun  range. 

It  was  eleven  o'clock  when  Bentham  was  instructed 
Ito  throw  a  shot  at  her. 


164  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"  Old  Abe "  was  carefully  sighted  by  the  young 
gunner,  and  then  Jupe  pulled  the  lanyard  with  "great 
unction. 

The  shell  soared  aloft  and  burst  close  to  the  fleeing 
steamer. 

Shot  followed  shot  after  that,  and  finally  one  shell 
struck  the  blockade  runner  squarely  in  the  stern. 

After  that  she  seemed  to  be  crippled,  for  the  cruiser 
came  down  on  her  hand  over  hand. 

"  Hit,  by  the  Lord  Harry  !"  exclaimed  Captain 
Graham..  "  She's  ours.  By  ray  soul,  the  men  will 
get  their  first  prize-money  to  night." 

"Old  Abe  "  had  done  his  duty,  and  there  was  no 
need  to  discharge  another  shell. 

The  stranfjer  was  drifting  ashore. 

The  two  steamers  were  now  less  than  a  mile  apart. 

A  full-orbed  moon  hung  over  the  wide  expanse  of 
waters,  silvering  the  crests  of  the  waves,  and  affording 
the  Union  vessel  plenty  of  light. 

With  full  head  on,  the  Avenger  now  bore  swiftly 
down  upon  the  blockade  runner,  still  endeavoring  to 
escape,  despite  the  injuries  inflicted  by  Benthara'sgun. 

Everybody  on  board  the  Union  cruiser  was  on  the 
alert. 

Ten  minutes  later  the  Avenger  ran  alongside,  and 
the  voice  of  Captain  Graham  was  plainly  heard  as  he 
called  out : 

"  Ship  ahoy  !   Who  are  3'-ou?" 

The  reply  was  not  delayed  an  instant. 

"  The  steamer  Foxhound," 

"  Great  heaven !"  ejaculated  Bentham  to  Jupe. 
"  Powell  may  keep  his  oath  ?" 

"We   are   the    United    States    cruiser,    Avenger," 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  165 

answered    the    young    commander.     "Do    you    sur- 
render?" 

A  moment  of  breathless  suspense  followed. 

"  We   are   not   armed.     Your   shot    has  pierced  us 
through  and  through,"  was  the  response.     "  We  can 
not  resist  and  are  forced  to  surrender." 

The  next  moment  a  loud  voice  on  the  Confederate's 
deck  cried  out : 

"  Into  the  sea  for  your  lives,  men  !  The  captain  has 
fired  the  fuse  attached  to  the  torpedo !" 

Instantl}'  dark  figures  leaped  over  the  sides  of  the 
blockade  runner  and  threw  themselves  into  the  sea. 

"  I  feared  that !"  exclaimed  Bentham,  making  for  the 
quarter-deck.  "  For  heaven's  sake  back  off,  Captain 
Graham.  There's  no  telling  when  the  torpedo  will 
explode !" 

The  Avenger  was  instantly  reversed,  and  the  next 
moment  she  was  leaving  the  spot  as  rapidly  as  possible. 

All  at  once  a  noise  like  the  explosion  of  a  score  of 
ammunition  chests  rent  the  air,  the  very  sea  itself 
seemed  to  reel,  and  the  Avenger  was  almost  thrown 
upon  her  side. 

Captain  Ralph  Powell  of  the  Foxhound  had  kept 
his  word ! 

His  fatnous  ship  was  worse  than  a  wreck. 

With  his  own  hands  he  had  destroyed  her  rather 
than  let  her  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Unionists. 

If  the  Avenger  had  not  been  warned  by  the  voice 
from  the  Foxhound's  deck  she  might  have  been  sunk 
by  the  explosion,  for  Powell  had  evidently  waited 
until  she  came  up  for  the  mad  purpose  of  sinking  both 
ships  together. 

The  force  of  the  explosion  prostrated  every  soul  on 
board  the  Union  cruiser. 


16b  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

Strong  men  fell  in  all  directions. 

Bentham  was  thrown  across  a  gun-carriage,  and 
Graham  was  knocked  senseless  by  a  spar  that  swept 
the  quarter-deck. 

For  several  minutes  not  a  man  spoke. 

There  were  cries  for  help  from  the  sea. 

Boats  were  lowered  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  a 
number  of  the  crew  of  the  Foxhound  were  pulled  from 
the  sea,  more  frightened  than  hurt, 

"  The  old  ship's  gone  at  last,"  said  one  of  the  rescued 
men  when  he  found  his  breath  among  his  rescuers. 
"  To  think  that  we've  been  sailing  the  seas  eight 
months  with  a  torpedo  somewhere  in  the  hold  ready 
to  blow  us  to  perdition!  Some  thought  the  captain 
wouldn't  keep  his  word,  but  I  knew  him  better  than 
all  the  rest  of  them.  When  he  went  below  half  an 
hour  ago  with  his  two  hands  clinched  and  his  eyes 
flashing,  I  knew  that  the  Foxhound  would  never  carry 
another  cargo," 

"  Where's  Captain  Powell  ?"  asked  Bentham  at  the 
first  opportunity. 

"  I  guess  you'll  have  to  ask  the  sea,"  was  the  reply. 
*'  He's  just  lucky  enough  to  escape  on  a  spar,  you  see 
land  is  close  aboard,  and  live  to  run  the  blockade  till 
the  war  closes," 

"  After  blowing  up  one  ship  ?"  ejaculated  the  young 
gunner. 

"  That's  ray  opinion,  sir,  I've  got  confidence  enough 
in  Captain  Powell's  luck  to  believe  in  things  you'd 
never  dream  of." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  167 


CHAPTER  XX. 

A    DANGEROUS    MISSION. 

The  sea  for  some  distance  around  the  spot  where 
the  Foxhound  had  met  her  fate  at  the  hands  of 
her  mad  captain  was  strewn  with  fragments  of  the 
disaster. 

The   captured   sailor's    words   impressed   Bentham. 

He  did  not,  therefore,  scour  the  sea  in  a  boat  in  a 
vain  search  for  Powell,  but  contented  him  with  picking 
up  a  sailor  now  and  then,  and  at  last  rowed  back  to 
the  Avenger. 

The  men  of  the  Foxhound  told  Graham  that  they 
had  lately  cleared  at  JS^assau  with  a  cargo  consisting  of 
army  clothing,  besides  a  lot  of  medical  stores  for  the 
Confederate  army,  that  they  did  not  expect  to  run 
across  the  Avenger,  which  they  understood  had  de- 
parted on  a  cruise  in  search  of  the  privateer  Shenan- 
doah. They  said  that  Bentham's  last  shot  had  disabled 
their  engines,  besides  killing  three  men. 

Thanks  to  that  shot,  the  sea  had  been  rid  of  a  pes!:, 
and  the  swiftest  blockade  runner  in  the  Confederate 
service  was  at  the  oottom  of  the  deep. 

Bentham  then  learned  for  the  first  time  that  thd 
Foxhound  had  picked  Captain  Powers  up  after  the 
sinking  of  the  Swift  wing,  and  taken  him  to  JS'assau, 
where  he  was  getting  ready  to  go  to  sea  as  the  com- 
mander of  a  strong  vessel  named  the  Destroyer,  which. 
English  gold  had  purchased  and  manned. 


108  THE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNER. 

"Good!"  exclaimed  the  young  gunner,  when  he 
learned  this.  "  I  shall  yet  meet  Powers  on  the  deck 
of  a  Confederate  privateer — just  where  I  have  longed 
to  encounter  him." 

The  talkative  prisoners  also  informed  Cannoneer 
Bob  of  Norah's  trip  to  i^assau ;  and,  little  by  little,  the 
story  of  the  terrible  tragedy  in  the  Foxhound's  cabin 
was  told. 

We  need  not  say  that  the  gunner  hung  on  each  word 
with  bi'eathless  interest. 

"What!  Mowbray  dead — murdered — and  Nondi  in 
Nassau,  a  stranger  in  a  strange  city  ? 

AVhat  trials,  what  indignities  would  not  assail  her 
there  ! 

"  The  prisoners  do  not  attempt  to  shield  Flash 
Gilmor,"  he  said  to  himself,  when  he  found  himself 
alone.  "They  cannot.  He  killed  Uncle  Gordon  in 
cold  blood,  and  for  a  purpose  as  base  as  his  own  dark 
heart.  I  wish  Jupe  had  linished  him  that  night  on  the 
river  bank.  It  would  have  prevented  a  murder,  any- 
how. But  I  still  live!  Beware,  Flash  Gilmor  !  You 
may  yet  encounter  one  whose  sword  will  avenge  the 
death  of  that  impulsive  old  man!  I  will  not  believe 
that  the  sea  ingulfed  the  murderer  the  night  of  his 
escape.  Water  does  not  drown  men  of  his  stripe. 
They  live  to  feel  the  merciless  stroke  of  a   Nemesis." 

In  the  quiet  of  his  little  quarters  Bob  Benthara 
stood  alone  thus  communing  with  himself. 

"  I  will  go  to  Nassau,"  he  said,  with  the  air  of  a 
man  who  had  formed  a  great  resolution  which  is  cer- 
tain to  bring  him  face  to  face  with  danger.  "1  feel 
that  Norah  will  be  surrounded  by  danger.  Dick 
Powers  is  there.     Flash   Gilmor  may  soon   confront 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  1.  3 

\\ev  with  the  glilter  of  victory  in  his  eyes.  Betwe-n 
tlie  two  men  she  will  suffer  indignities  which  will  <.  11 
for  vengeance !" 

Having  said  this  he  went  to  Graham's  cabin  ;;;«l 
started  tiie  young  commander  with  the  announcenit.^.t 
of  his  wish  for  a  trip  to  Kassaii. 

"  l^ou  go  to  I^assau  ?'' exclaimed  Captain  Grab.  i. 
"Why,  it  is  a  veritable  den  of  lions.'- 

"  I  know  that,"  answered  the  3'oung  gunner,  snril- 
ing.  "  If  it  were  a  pen  of  lambs  I  might  not  decidp  t-o 
go.  Mv  mind  is  made  up,  captain.  1  go  to  Nassai.  — 
with  your  permisson," 

Of  course  it  was  contrary  to  the  regulations  of  tlie 
service  for  Bentham  to  leave  the  ship  except  by  vx- 
press  permission  of  his  commander;  but  our  hero  \va<\ 
reasons  for  believing  that  Captain  Graham,  when  \\q 
had  heard  his  reasons,  would  not  refuse  him  leave  of 
absence. 

His  commander  heard  him  with  patience  and  tht::i 
said  : 

"I  don't  know^  how  I  can  spare  3^ou,  Bentham,  ju<t 
at  this  time.  Your  services  are  invaluable  to  me,  fu? 
m\^  duty  in  these  seas  is  accomplished,  and  tlia 
Shenandoah,  and  other  steamers  of  her  class,  now 
demand  my  attention." 

"  I  regret  the  necessity,  sir ;  but  to  me  the  matter 
is  imperative.  Of  course  it  remains  for  you  to  say 
whether  you  will  permit  me  to  go  or  not." 

Captain  Graham  thouglit  a  moment. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  it  is  a  dangerous  adventure,  and 
I  strongly  advise  you  against  undertaking  it;  but  I 
know  when  a  pretty  woman  has  wound  herself  about 
a  young  man's   heart  he   will  go   through    fire   and 


170  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

water  for  her  sake.  You  may  ^o,  Bentham.  I  will 
put  you  ashore  before  morning.  You  will  report  to 
the  admiral  as  soon  as  you  can." 

The  A'x^enger  fell  in  at  daybreak  the  next  day  with  a 
vessel  bound  for  New  York,  and  the  men  saved  after 
the  explosion  of  the  blockade  runner  were  transferred 
to  her  decks,  and  the  two  vessels  parted  company. 

Graham  regretted  that  he  was  not  able  to  turn 
Ralph  Powell  over  as  a  prisoner,  for  a  possibility  of 
his  escape  still  remained. 

Once  in  the  hands  of  the  government,  he  would 
never  resume  his  daring  operations  on  the  high  seas. 

Having  got  rid  of  her  prisoners,  the  Avenger  headed 
for  Nassau  with  the  intention  of  approaching  near 
enough  to  allow  Bentham  a  chance  to  enter  it. 

Graham  had  hoped  that  sober  second  thought  would 
break  the  gunner's  resolution  ;  but  it  seemed  only  to 
strengthen  it. 

Norah,  unprotected,  was  in  Nassau.  Dick  Powers, 
the  privateer,  was  there  too. 

Was  not  this  enough  to  demand  his  presence  there  ? 

Bentham  had  also  obtained  permission  for  Jupe  to 
go  with  him. 

The  two  had  seemingly  united  their  fortunes,  for 
Jupe  was  with  Bentham  when  he  served  the  guns  of 
the  Cumberland  in  her  hopeless  battle  with  the  Mer- 
rimac,  and  ever  since  he  had  kept  close  to  the  loyal 
gunner's  side. 

It  was  early  in  the  morning  when  the  Avenger 
came  to  a  short  distance  from  Nassau,  whose  lights 
could  be  seen  without  the  aid  of  a  glass. 

A  boat  was  noiselessly  lowered  over  the  ship's  side, 


.    TPE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  171 

and  the  figure  of  a  herculean  negro  sprung  nimbly 
down  the  ladder. 

"Be  ever  on  the  watch,  Bentham,"  said  Grrahara  to 
the  person  who  held  out  his  hand  previous  to  follow- 
ing the  darky. 

"  You  may  know  that  I  will  not  sleep  in  that 
treason-infected  city,"  was  the  answer.  "  I  shall  not 
move  without  counting  the  cost.  I  have  weighed 
everything  carefully,  captain.  I  enter  Nassau  with 
my  eyes  open." 

"Good!  I'm  glad  of  that,"  was  the  reply,  and  the 
speaker's  hand  closed  fervently  on  the  one  it  grasped. 

A  few  more  words  were  spoken,  and  the  young  man 
who  bade  Captain  Graham  good-by  descended  to  the 
boat,  and  gave  a  command  in  a  whisper  for  it  to 
put  off. 

Bentham's  most  intimate  friends  would  hardly  have 
recognized  him  as  he  sat  in  the  bow  of  the  ship's  boat 
that  night  with  his  face  turned  toward  the  lights  of 
Nassau. 

He  had  doffed  the  uniform  he  had  worn  for  weeks 
with  credit  and  heroism,  and  now  wore  a  simpler  dress 
which  would  not  be  likely  to  attract  attention  in 
Nassau,  nor  rouse  the  suspicion  of  any  one. 

The  boat  propelled  by  muffled  oars  crept  noiselessly 
through  the  water  and  swiftly  approached  the  city. 

Not  a  word  was  uttered  by  any  one. 

It  glided  across  an  unfrequented  part  of  the  harbor, 
easily  avoiding  the  shipping,  and  at  last  touched  the 
wkarf  at  a  deserted-looking  place,  for  neither  bale,  box 
nor  human  being  was  to  be  seen. 

After   carefully  inspecting   the   quay  at  the  point 


172  'FSE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

touched  as  well  as  they  were  able,  Benthara  and  Jupe 
landed  and  the  boat  which  had  conveyed  them  to  the 
city  quietly  put  back  toward  the  ship. 

"  Hyer  we  is,  Massa  Bob,  in  de  hyena's  den,"  said 
Jupe  in  the  lowest  of  whispers.  "  If  Cap'n  Powers  be 
in  Nassa',  why,  Tom  de  black  rascal  must  be  hyar, 
too,  an'  de  consequence  am  dat  ole  Jupe  must  be  on 
the  lookout." 

"You  certainly  must,  Jupe,"  observed  Bentham, 
who  instantly  recalled  the  negro  by  whom  his  escape 
from  Wilmington  had  nearly  been  frustrated,  and  then 
he  added  to  himself.  "I  do  not  intend  to  submit  my- 
self to  that  sable  villain's  eyes  for  inspection  if  I  can 
help  it.  I  would  sooner  pass  in  review  before  Captain 
Powers  himself." 

Immediately  after  the  boat's  return  to  the  Avenger, 
whose  young  captain  was  anxious  to  hear  of  his  gun- 
ner's safe  arrival  in  Nassau,  Bentham  and  his  faithful 
friend  turned  from  the  wharf. 

It  was  not  Bentham's  first  visit  to  Nassau. 

He  had  spent  several  months  in  the  city  during  his 
boyhood  and  when  his  father  commanded  a  United 
States  ship,  but  since  that  time  the  place  had  under- 
gone numerous  changes,  although  it  had  retained  its 
general  features. 

He  therefore  had  no  difficulty  in  finding  his  way  to 
the  main  portion  of  the  town. 

Jupe  was  at  his  heels. 

"Massa  Bob,  we'se  follered,"  suddenly  said  the 
darky  in  a  startling  whisper  as  his  hand  fell  on 
Bentham's  arm  sending  a  thrill  to  his  heart. 

The  loyal  gunner  instantly  stopped. 


THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNEE.  173 

It  was  a  critical  moment — a  spy  at  his  iieels. 

"  Dar !  de  spy  has  stopped,  too !"  ejaculated  Jupe. 
"  It's  a  mighty  good  t'ing  dat  de  street  ain't  lighted 
up,  Massa  Bob.  Jes'  you  walk  on  a  piece ;  den  you'll 
heah  de  debbil  come  on  agin." 

Bentham  moved  forward  with  ears  strained  to  catch 
the  slightest  sound,  btit  he  heard  nothing. 

"De  spy  hab  taken  off  his  shoes !"'  said  Jupe. 


174  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

FEAELESS    AND    BRAVE. 

The  young  gunner  instinctively  reached  for  his 
revolver. 

"  It  mustn't  come  to  dat,  Massa  Bob,"  said  the  darky, 
clutching  his  wrist.  "A  pistol  shot  would  spile  de 
hull  bizness.  Dat  spy  must  be  got  outen  de  way  an' 
dat  without  much  ceremony.  Trust  ole  Jupe  fo'  dat. 
Jes'  go  on  now,  massa,  wid  walk  enuff  fo'  two  men, 
I'll  fix  de  spy." 

Seeing  no  other  way  out  of  the  difficulty  and  repos- 
ing a  world  of  confidence  in  Jupe,  Bentham  moved 
on  again. 

The  darky  crouched  at  the  foot  of  a  tree  with  his 
face  turned  toward  the  sea. 

Without  a  single  weapon  in  his  hand,  the  giant 
.negro  waited  for  the  person  who  was  certainly  on  his 
master's  trail. 

Like  a  Numidian  lion  waiting  for  a  straggler  from 
a  caravan  the  big  black  prepared  to  sieze  his  prey. 

Deceived  by  Bentham's  movements,  the  night  spy 
came  on  again  like  a  tiger  sure  of  his  victim. 

Jupe  did  not  move  a  muscle. 

Presently  his  eyes  singled  out  a  gliding  figure 
darker  than  the  night  itself,  and  advancing  with  the 
silken  tread  of  the  cat. 

All  at  once  the  crouching  negro  rose  and  threw 
himself  forward. 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  175 

He  landed  against  the  unsuspecting  spy  whose 
throat  one  of  his  sable  hands  clutched,  and  whom 
he  bore  backward  notwithstanding  his  desperate 
struggles. 

"  Xot  a  word,  you  spyin'  debbil  I"  hissed  Jupe,  in 
the  trailer's  ear.  "  De  hand  ob  a  giant  am  at  youi 
throat,  an'  you  may  find  yerself  in  de  world  ob  spirit? 
mighty  soon  ef  your  tongue  wags." 

The  spy  could  not  speak,  even  if  he  had  wished  U'^ 
for  his  captor's  hand  almost  choked  him,  and  effoct- 
ualh'  prevented  a  single  word  from  finding  its  •  /ay 
from  his  tongue. 

At  length  Jupe  thought  he  had  choked  the  spy 
enough.  He  loosened  his  grip,  but  not  until  he  had 
dragged  him  from  the  sidewalk  into  a  narrow  wa  /  not 
unlike  an  alle}'. 

"Now,  what  you  foUerin'  us  fo'?"  demanded   fupe. 

A  long  breath,  a  gasp,  and  then  : 

"  You'se  Jupe,  ole  Massa  Mowbray's  nigger." 

Jupe  could  hardly  repress  an  exclamation  of  surprise. 

The  spy  was  Black  Tom,  the  negro  who  had  accom- 
panied Captain  Powers  from  Wilmington  in  the 
Swiftwing.  ^ 

The  surprise  was  mutual. 

"I'se  ole  Jupe,  suah  enuff!"  said  Bentham's  black 
companion,  when  he  recovered  from  his  surprise. 
Now,  look  hyer,  Tom,  who'se  you  spyin'  fo'  in  Nassau  ?" 

"Dat's  my  bizness!"  was  the  provoking  answer. 

For  a  moment  Jupe's  hand  seemed  about  to  fly  at 
the  captive's  throat  again. 

"  No  foolin',  Tom,"  he  said  threateningly.  "  Dis 
am  de  most  serious  piece  ob  bizness  you'se  eber  had  to 
do  with.     I  can't  afford  to  let  you  go,  fo'  de  man  what 


176  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

you'se  with  now,  Cap'n  Powers,  would  know  ebery- 
thing  afo'  mornin?  " 

Tom  said  nothing. 

The  look  that  he  gave  June  was  the  glare  oi  a 
tiger. 

i^ot  far  off  Benthani  waited  for  the  luau  ho  had  left 
behind. 

The  two  negroes  had  never  i)een  friends. 

Hating  each  other  as  boys,  they  had  grown  to  man- 
hood as  Mowbray's  slaves  with  that  hate  intensified 
by  petty  rivalries  and  disputes,  and  now  they  stood 
face  to  face  in  a  strange  city,  captor  and  captive, 
thirsting  for  each  other's  blood. 

Jupe  was  not  his  enemy's  superior  in  strength,  but 
he  had  surprised  him,  and  thus  held  an  advantage 
gained  b}'^  cunning. 

"  You  habn't  answered  me,  Tom,"  said  Jupe,  nettled 
by  his  enemy's  silence.  "You  mustn't  tell  Ca[)'n 
Powers  what  you'se  seen  to-night." 

"  Yes,  but  I  will,  Jupe  !" 

With  the  last  word  the  black  captive  broke  suddenly" 
awajT^,  and  dealt  his  captor  a  blow  that  staggered  liini. 

Prodigious  as  that  blow  was,  it  failed  to  place  Jupe 
hors  de  combat.  He  almost  instantly  recovered,  and 
bountled  after  his  antagonist,  who  had  sprung  awa}'. 

Black  Tom  saw  he  was  at  his  heels,  and  attempted 
to  make  his  escape." 

"  You'se  got  to  be  my  prisoner  yet !"  grated  Jup.% 
as  the  thought  of  Tom  escaping  with  the  information 
he  had  obtained  rushed  across  his  mind.  "  De  angel  ob 
vengeance  am  on  yer  track,  P>lack  Tom,  an'  you  cau'u 
git  away !" 

Bentham  heard  the  two  men  approach  him. 


THE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNEB.  177 

The  next  monieut  they  flitted  past  like  specters, 
leaving  him  holding  his  breath,  and  with  a  revolver 
still  half  drawn. 

Jupe  was  the  better  runner  of  the  two  blacks. 

He  gained  on  the  sable  spy  so  swiftly  that  Tom  saw 
that  escape  could  not  be  effected  by  running. 

All  at  once  he  whirled  with  a  hoarse,  tigerish 
ejaculation,  and  confronted  Jupe  with  uplifted  knife. 

"  I'se  knife  proof,  you  spyin^  nigger!"  shot  from 
Jupe's  throat,  as  he  sprung  straight  at  his  enem}',  knock- 
ing the  knife  arm  up  and  dealing  him  a  blow  that  sent 
him  reeling  back. 

Black  Tom  rose  almost  instantl}'^,  but  Jupe  grappled 
him,  and  the  two  sable  giants  writhed  and  twisted  for 
a  few  moments  in  one  of  the  most  desperate  struggles 
that  can  be  imagined. 

Benthara  heard  it  on  the  darkened  street,  and 
bounded  forward,  eager  to  help  terminate  it  in  Jupe's 
favor,  for  discover}'-,  if  not  arrest,  was  liable  to  take 
place  at  any  moment. 

When  he  reached  the  combatants  one  sprung  up  and 
confronted  him. 

"De  spyin'  debbil  will  nebber  tell  Cap'n  Powers 
what  him  saw^  to-night,"  said  the  negro,  pointing  to  the 
form  lying  motionless  at  his  feet. 

''You've  killed  him,  Jupe." 

"  'Spect  so,  Massa  Bob.  It  am  de  only  sure  way  ob 
stoppin'  a  spy's  tongue.  Eemember  dat  we  am  in 
Nassau,  an'  dat  Black  Tom  b'longs  to  Cap'n  Dick 
Powers." 

Bentham  stooped  over  the  spv  for  a  moment  and 
satisfied  himself  that  he  was  dead. 

He  regretted  that  bis  entrance  into  Nassau  had  been 


178  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

followed  by  the  death  of  a  human  being,  but  by  the 
taking  of  a  life  of  but  little  moment  to  the  world  at 
large  his  own  had  been  saved. 

"  We  must  go  on,  Jupe,"  he  said  to  the  giant  negro, 
to  whom  he  now  owed  lasting  friendship.  "There  may 
be  more  spies  in  Nassau." 

"Dat's  a  fact,  Massa  Bob.  We  must  go  on  fo' 
suah." 

Near  where  the  two  negroes  had  decided  their  com- 
bat was  the  mouth  of  a  dark  alley  into  which  Jupe 
hastily  dragged  his  foe. 

When  he  rejoined  Bentham  there  was  an  unmis- 
takable gleam  of  victory  in  his  eyes. 

Bentham  and  his  dusky  companion  now  secured  quiet 
lodgings,  and  as  they  were  worn  out  for  want  of  sleep 
they  slept  nearly  all  day,  and  night  was  falling  fast 
when  they  once  more  came  out  upon  the  streets. 

The  twain  hurried  on  without  speaking,  nor  paused 
again  until  they  reached  one  of  the  many  squares  of 
the  city. 

They  found  it  well  lighted  and  thronged  with 
people,  all  of  whom  seemed  in  a  merry  mood,  for  news 
had  been  received  of  an  important  Confederate  victory. 

A  great  many  Americans  appeared  everywhere 
among  the  crowds,  and  Bentham  was  constantly  on 
the  lookout. 

"  Look  a  leetle  ober  yer  right  shoulder,  Massa  Bob," 
suddenly  said  Jupe,  in  low  tones,  that  did  not  reach 
any  other  ears  than  those  for  which  they  were  spoken. 
"  Take  a  squint  at  dat  dar  man  standin'  by  de  little 
officer." 

Bentham  looked  in  the  direction  indicated  and  saw 
two  men — one  below  the  average  height,  clad  in  Con« 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  179 

federate  naval  uniform,  the  other  tall,  and  dressed  in 
a  manner  that  suggested  a  disguise. 

"  Flash  Gilmor  !"  fell  from  the  gunner's  lips,  after 
he  had  sazed  at  the  pair — especially  at  the  tall  man — 
a  moment.  "The  waters  did  not  ingulf  him  after  his 
brutal  deed." 

The  man  was  indeed  Flash  Gilmor. 

The  small  officer  seemed  to  be  his  companion,  for 
the  pair  stood  side  by  side,  looking  at  the  many  colored 
lanterns  that  were  being  run  to  the  top  of  the  pole  in 
the  center  of  the  plaza  or  square. 

"  Oh,  for  a  sword,  face  to  face  with  you,  ruifian  !" 
exclaimed  Benthara,  and  the  next  moment  he  turned 
quickly  to  the  negro. 

"  Wait  here  for  me,  Jupe,"  he  said,  and  before  Jupe 
could  utter  a  remonstrance  he  was  gone. 

"Is  de  man  crazy  !"  cried  the  negro,  unconsciously 
speaking  aloud  and  causing  several  bystanders  to 
notice  him.  "  Hyer  me  is,  not  an  hour  in  de  city,  an' 
Massa  Bob  puts  off  arter  de  first  enemy  him  sees. 
Dat's  no  way  to  carry  out  a  plan  !"  and  Jupe  started 
off  to  find  the  gunner. 

Meanwhile  Bentham,  his  blood  at  the  boiling  point 
and  rage  tugging  at  his  heartstrings,  was  making  his 
Avay  toward  Flash  Gilmor  and  his  companion. 

"  He  won't  recognize  me — 1  know  it,"  the  young 
gunner  was  saying  to  himself.  "  I  am  going  to  settle 
accounts  with  him  first,  and  that  before  dawn," 

A  minute  later  he  reached  Flash  Gilmor's  side,  and 
jostled  him  with  more  spirit  than  gentility. 

Instantly  the  Southerner  turned  and  demanded  an 
apology  in  no  civil  voice. 

"  This   is   my  apology  !"  flashed  Bentham,  and  the 


IBO  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

back  of  his  hand  was  laid  across  Gibnor's  flushed  face. 
"  I  love  to  strike  a  coward  wherever  I  find  him  !" 

An  oath  of  rage — an  expression  of  indignation  from 
the  little  Confederate  captain — nothing  more. 

Gilmor  dared  not  resent  the  blow. 

He  realized  that  a  duel  would  reveal  his  presence  in 
Nassau  to  captain  Powers — one  of  tlie  last  thing.s  to 
be  desired,  for  the  Captain  of  the  Swiftwing  knew  that 
he  had  taken  Mowbray's  life. 

Bentham,  after  dealing  the  blow,  stepped  back  and 
gazed  at  the  murderer. 

The  little  captain  stepped  forward. 

"  Mv  friend  dare  not  fight  here,"  he  said,  addressing 
the  gunner,  and  sending  a  quick  look  at  Gilmor.  "  If 
3^ou  are  spoiling  for  a  figlit,  sir,  I  can  accommodate 
you  in  my  friend's  stead.  I  am  Captain  Nugent  of 
the  Confederate  service." 

Bob  Bentham  threw  a  look  of  contempt  at  the 
speaker. 

"  Me  fight  you  ?"  he  exclaimed.  "  I  have  no  quarrel 
with  a  pygmy.  Besides,  I  would  not  like  to  pierce  the 
elegiint  uniform  you  wear!" 

With  the  last  word  he  turned  on  his  heel  and  left 
Gihnor  and  the  Confederate  captain  to  their  amaze- 
ment. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  Ibl 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

CATCHING    A    TARTAR. 

Bentham's  blow  had  beea  witnessed  by  but  few 
}3ersons,  and  the  young  gunner  had  disappeared  even 
before  those  few  could  realize  what  had  happened. 

"Come,  Nugent,  let  us  get  away  from  here,"  said 
Flash  Gilmor,  addressing  his  companion,  the  Con- 
federate captain.  "  I  would  give  ray  right  arm  if  I 
had  been  in  a  position  to  avenge  that  cowardly  stroke. 
I  know  why  it  was  dealt.  The  man  must  be  a  fool  if 
he  thinks  I  cannot  penetrate  his  disguise.  This  affair 
does  not  end  here  ;  but,  first,  let  me  get  out  of  sight 
of  tliese  staring  people." 

Giiraor  almost  dragged  Captain  Nugent  from  the 
spot. 

''  That  man  was  Bentham,  the  Yankee  gunner,  whose 
shot  sunk  the  Swiftwing,"  Gilmor  said,  after  the  twain 
had  entered  the  cabin  of  a  vessel  lying  in  the  harbor. 
"  I  did  not  recognize  him  till  after  he  struck  ;  but  1  am 
not  mistaken.  I  know  what  brings  him  to  Nassau. 
He  has  found  out  what  happened  on  board  the  Fox- 
hound, and  he  couldn't  control  himself  when  he  saw 
me — that's  the  whole  upshot  of  the  matter.  I  wish  I 
hadn't  a  certain  fear  before  my  eyes.  I'd  like  to  fight 
Bentham." 

"  Why  not  accommodate  him,"  said  the  Confederate. 
"  Powell  is  gone,  you  know." 

'•But  Dick  Powers  still  remains.     He  wants  ^^^  '^'» 


182  THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNEB. 

badly  as  Powell  ever  did.  He  will  sail  day  after  to- 
morrow, thank  heaven !  Then,  1  will  be  at  liberty  to 
fight  the  Yankee  gunner ;  and,  by  my  soul !  I'll  run 
him  through  without  mercy  !  You  will  stand  by  me, 
captain  ?" 

"  Draw  on  me  for  any  assistance  desired,"  was 
Nugent's  reply  ;  "  the  drafts  will  be  honored.  I  would 
have  forced  Bentham  into  a  personal  encounter  when 
he  insulted  you,  if  I  could  have  done  so  without  com- 
promising your  safety,  but  I  dared  not,  you  know." 

"  Oi'  course  ;  but  when  the  Destroyer  puts  to  sea,  I 
will  be  at  liberty  to  pay  the  several  debts  I  owe  cer- 
tain individuals  here,"  said  Gilraor.  "I  more  than 
half  believe  that  Captain  Powers  knows  that  I  am 
somewhere  in  Nassau." 

"  I  am  convinced  that  he  does.  That  window  affair 
Avas  exceedingly  rash." 

Gilmor  smiled. 

"  By  Jove  !  I  could  not  help  it,  captain,"  he  ex- 
claimed. "I  was  passing  along  and  caught  a  glimpse 
of  the  two  girls  through  the  network  of  plant  leaves. 
Curiosity  drew  me  to  the  window,  and  I  heard  Dora's 
opinion  of  Flash  Gilmor.  When  I  beheld  Norah  alone 
in  the  room  1  felt  like  telling  her  that  I  was  still  alive 
to  complete  the  triumph  on  which  I  have  set  ray 
heart.  She  came  to  the  window  and  put  forth  her 
hand  to  pluck  a  delicate  flower.  I  encircled  her  waist 
with  my  fingers  before  I  could  control  myself.  She 
knew  me  at  once,  and  starting  back  with  a  light  cr}', 
she  fell  to  the  floor  in  a  swoon.  Of  course  I  hurried 
away.     After  that,  that  spot  was  no  place  for  me." 

"  As  I  have  said,  your  adventure  was  a  risk3'^  one. 
I  am  surprised  that  nothing  has  grown  out  of  it,"  the 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  183 

Confederate  captain  said,  "  For  some  reason  or  other, 
the  two  women  are  keeping  secret  your  presence 
here." 

Gilraor  was  silent  for  a  moment,  during  which  time 
he  poured  out  and  drained  a  glass  of  wine,  which  im- 
mediately lent  a  strange  glitter  to  his  eyes. 

"  That  little  matter  we  were  discussing  this  after- 
noon must  not  fall  through,  captain,"  resumed  Gilmor. 

"JSTo;  but  doesn't  Bentham's  arrival  complicate 
matters  just  a  little  ?" 

"  1  cannot  see  how.  I  will  fight  him  first.  After 
that  the  Seabird  can  sail." 

''  Fix  things  to  suit  yourself,"  smiled  Nugent.  "  I 
am  ready  to  sail  at  an  hour's  notice,  but,  to  tell  the 
truth.  Flash,  I'd  like  to  carry  that  Yankee  gunner 
with  me." 

"On  the  same  vessel  that  conveys  ISTorah  from 
Nassau?"  ejaculated  Gilmor,  staring  at  Nugent. 
"'  Would  that  not  be  a  risky  piece  of  business?" 

"Not  at  all!"  laughed  the  little  Confederate.  "A 
man  in  irons  on  board  the  Seabird  could  harm  no  one ; 
but  you  are  determined  to  fight  hira  first  ?" 

"  Yes  !  come  what  may,  I  will  fight  hira  !"  and  Flash 
Gilmor  leaped  to  his  feet  and  brought  a  clinched  hand 
down  upon  the  table  between  them  with  a  vehemence 
that  shook  the  glasses  and  decanters  upon  it.  "  If  T 
disarm  him  and  draw  some  of  his  blood  he  shall  be 
yours,  captain.  I'll  not  try  to  kill  him  unless — ^^unless 
he  pla3^s  the  tiger  a,nd  lunges  at  my  heart." 

"  Where  will  you  fight  him  ?" 

"  In  the  grove  on  the  seashore  just  beyond  the  city's 
limits." 

"  When  ?" 


18i  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"Any  time  after  the  sailiu<^  of  the  Destroyer.  I 
have  to  wait  until  Powers  has  put  to  sea.  I  wish  that 
man  and  his  new  privateer  were  at  the  bottom  of  the 
ocean  !''    . 

It  was  thus  determined  that  Flash  Gihnor  should 
tight  Bentham  after  the  departure  of  tlie  new  and 
formidablep  rivateer  which  had  been  purchased  for 
Powers  since  his  arrival  at  Nassau. 

They  went  so  far  as  to  select  the  ground  and 
name  the  time — all  this  without  consulting  the  Union 
gunner. 

They  knew  that  Bentham  would  not  shrink  from 
the  encounter,  for  he  was  eager  to  meet  Flash  Gihnor, 
and  avenge  Mowbray's  death. 

It  was  still  dark  when  the  two  men  left  the  captain's 
cabin  and  adjourned  to  the  quarter-^deck  with  a  couple 
of  prime  cigars. 

The  sky  w^as  overcast,  but  a  delightful  breeze  blew 
across  the  bay,  which  was  well  studded  with  water- 
craft  of  all  kinds. 

Gilmor  owed  the  preservation  of  his  life  to  Captain 
Nugent,  of  the  blockade  runner  Seabird,and  his  escape 
from  the  Foxhound  after  the  killing  of  Gordon 
Mowbray. 

Fortune  or  fate  favored  him,  for  after  rowing  hard 
from  the  Foxhound  until  near  dawn  he  was  picked 
up  by  the  Seabird,  Captain  Nugent,  on  her  way  to 
Nassau. 

Tt  happened  that  Gilmor  and  the  blockade  runner 
were  old  friends,  and  the  meeting  at  sea  proved  mutu- 
ally agreeable. 

The  Seabird  reached  Nassau  without  accident;  but 
Gilmor  was  obliged  to  move  about   with  caution,  for 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  185 

shortly  after  bis  arris'al  Captain  Powell  ran  into  port, 
having  Xora  and  Captain  Powers  of  the  doomed  Swift- 
win  «•  on  board. 

Powell  did  not  disturb  him,  but  Powers  set  to  work 
to  get  a  new  ship  vrhich,  when  it  had  been  pui-chased, 
he  renamed  the  Destroyer,  in  accordance  with  his  oath, 
and  got  ready  for  sea. 

He  commanded  a  ship  superior  in  build  and  arma- 
ment to  the  Swiftwing  and  he  confidentl}^  expected  to 
carry  everything  before  him. 

He  would  avenge  the  destruction  of  his  first  vessel ; 
he  would  hunt  the  Avenger  down  and  force  her  to 
surrender,  or  send  her  with  her  crew  to  the  depths  of 
the  ocean. 

Flash  Gilmor  and  his  companion,  who  affected  the 
uniform  of  a  Confederate  captain,  though  only  a 
blockade  runner,  enjoyed  their  cigars  on  the  Seabird's 
quarter-deck  for  some  time  without  molestation. 

Ml  at  once  Captain  Xugent  stepped  forward  and 
leaned  anxiously  over  the  ship's  side. 

The  water  lay  dark  and  almost  rippleless  under  the 
vessel's  keel ;  but  it  was  certain  that  J^ugent's  ears  had 
caught  a  suspicious  sound. 

There  was  just  light  enough  on  deck  to  enable 
Gilmor  to  see  his  figure  leaning  over  the  railing. 

Wh&,t  had  startled  the  captain  ? 

As  the  minutes  wore  away,  the  young  Confederate's 
anxiety. increased,  until  he  at  last  glided  to  IS^ugent's 
side. 

At  that  moment  the  Seabird's  captain  turned  his 
face  toward  him. 

'-  There's  a  boat  down  yonder,"  he  said,  in  the  low-est 
of  whispers,  which  was  loud  enough  to  make  Gilmor 


186  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

start,  "I  thought  1  heard  it  awhile  ago.  You  can't 
hear  it  now  ;  neither  can  I,  because  it's  directly  be- 
neath us." 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?"  asked  Gilmor. 

"  It's  the  boat  of  a  spy,  of  course,"  was  the  quick 
r^ly  in  the  same  tones.  "  I  can  make  out  its  outlines 
in  spite  of  the  night.  There's  only  one  man  in  it. 
Hold— I'll  lix  him  !" 

Nugent  disappeared,  but  soon  came  back,  bearing 
in  his  hands  a  long  coil  of  black  rope,  at  one  end  of 
which  was  a  slip-loop  like  tjje  noose  of  a  lasso. 

"  I'll  give  the  sp}''  a  surprise  he  isn't  looking  for."  He 
smiled,  uncoiling  the  rope.  "  We'll  just  pull  him  up 
on  deck  and  inspect  him  at  our  leisure." 

"  Can  we  do  it,  captain  ?" 

"  Trust  to  me." 

The  Confederate  leaned  over  the  railing  of  the  ship 
and  looked  downward  again. 

The  boat  and  its  occupant  were  still  in  the  position 
he  had  last  seen  them. 

Flash  Gilmor  held  his  breath. 

A  minute  later  the  noose  descended  from  Nugent's 
hands,  and  all  at  once  a  startled  cry  broke  the  stillness 
of  the  night. 

"  I  have  him,  Gilmor !  Here  !  help  me  pull  him 
up  !"  exclaimed  Nugent. 

Flash  Gilmor  seized  the  rope,  braced  himself  beside 
his  companion,  and  both  men  pulled  together. 

It  was  evident  that  Nugent  had  lassoed  a  spy  whose 
resisting  powers  were  rather  prodigious. 

The  two  Confederates  had  no  child's  task  on  their 
hands;  but,  hand  over  hand,  they  gradually  drew 
their  capture  up  the  Seabird's  side. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  187 

"  Another  foot  and  we'll  see  him,  Gilmor." 

The  last  word  had  scarcely  left  Nugent's  tongue, 
when  a  dark  shape  appeared  over  the  top  of  the  ship's 
railing,  and  tlie  next  instant  a  huge  figure  alighted 
on  the  deck. 

Nugent  and  Gilinor  were  almost  thrown  down  bv 
the  sudden  slackening  of  the  cord. 

"  Great  heaven — a  negro  !"  fell  from  Gilraor's   lips. 

•'Yes;  a  black  debbil,  too,  Massa  Flash,"  was  the 
quick  retort ;  and  the  following  instant  a  tigerish 
bound  carried  the  sable  speaker  to  the  assassin's  side. 

"Jupe!"  he  gasped. 

"  Dat's  who  I  am  !" 

Before  Gilmor  could  draw  a  weapon,  he  was  jerked 
off  his  feet  and  hurried  to  the  ship's  side. 

"  Help,  IS^ugent !"  pealed  from  his  throat  in  accents 
of  terror.     "  The  black  fiend  is  going  to  kill  me." 

The  Confederate  captain  sprung  quickly  to  Gilmor's 
rescue,  but  before  he  could  render  any  assistance,  the 
young  Southerner  was  pitched  headlong  into  the  sea. 

An  oath  burst  from  ISTugent's  throat. 

"  By  my  soul,  you  shall  pay  for  that  deed  !"  he  ex- 
claimed. 

"  Mebbe  so,  Cap'n  Nugent,*'  replied  the  negro,  as  he 
wheeled  upon  him. 

The  Confederate  could  not  use  the  sword  he  had 
drawn,  for  the  black  man  leaped  upon  him,  dealt  him 
three  blows  in  blinding  succession,  and  flung  him 
away. 

"  Dat's  what  yer  git  fur  lassoin'  a  darky,"  ejacu- 
lated Jupe.  "De  next  time  I  guess  you'll  let  him  go 
away  without  cotchin'  'ira." 


1S8  2iiii'  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

Jupe  sprung  toward  the  railing  just  as  a  number  of 
the  crew  made  their  appearance  on  deck. 

A  rush  was  made  for  him,  but  he  lowered  himself 
over  the  ship's  side,  dropped  into  the  boat  and  rowed 
away. 

Captain  Nugent  had  caught  a  Tartar, 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  189 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

MOVEMENTS    OF    PERIL. 

"  Well,  what  did  yon  discover,  Jupe  ?"  asked 
l^enthara,  who  was  found  by  the  giant  negro  an  hour 
after  the  events  just  recorded. 

"  Yah,  yah  ?"  was  the  darky's  reply,  as  his  eyes 
twinkled  merrily.  "  You  see,  Massa  Bob,  I  found  a 
boat  at  de  wharf  an'  I  row  oat  to  whar  dey  tole  me 
Cap'n  Nugent's  ship  lay.  I  seed  two  little  lights  on 
de  quarter,  an'  I  knowed  dat  Flash  Gilmor,  an'  de 
cap'n  war  enjoyin'  deir  cigars  all  to  demselves,  I 
went  closer,  till  I  war  right  under  dera,  listenin'  to  all 
dat  dey  war  sayin',  for  dey  didn't  lower  deir  voices, 
but  talked  as  if  ole  Jupe  war  away  in  jN^orf  Caroliny. 
But  all  at  once,  Massa  Bob,  suffin'  like  a  snake  drop 
ober  my  shoulders,  an'  de  next  rainit  I  war  pulled  up- 
ward like  a  man  when  he's  hung.  Golly,  but  I  war 
skeered  fo'  a  minit ;  but  den  I  says  to  myself:  '  Dem 
two  chaps  cotch  a  Tartar  in  ole  Jupe!'  an'  suah  enuff 
dat's  de  berv  way  it  turned  out,  yah,  yah,  yah  !  Jes' 
as  I  touched  de  deck  Massa  Gilmor,  de  rascal,  him 
say  :  'Jupe,  by  heben  I'  an'  I  wentfo'  him." 

"  You  didn't  kill  him,  Jupe  ?" 

"  Guess  not,  Massa  Bob.  Ole  Jupe  pick  'ira  up  an' 
toss  'im  into  de  sea — dat's  all." 

''Over  the  ship's  side?" 

"Ob  course!  I  didn't  carry 'im  down  an' lay 'im 
gently   in  de   water.     I   wouldn't  be  so  keerful  wid 


190  THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNER. 

such  a  chap  as  Flash  Gilmor,  what  shoot  ole  Mars' 
Mosvbray.  Den  I  turned  on  Cap'n  Nugent,  who  war 
drawin'  his  sword.  I  touched  'ira  two  or  free  times 
wid  ray  fist,  an'  den  toss  'iin  away," 

"  Overboard  «" 

"  No,  down  de  deck.  De  sailors  came  up  den  ;  dey 
had  heard  de  tussle  from  below,  an'  ole  Jupe  had  to 
make  tracks  fo'  de  boat.  Him  git  away  jes'  in  time, 
an'  hyer  he  is,  Massa  Bob,  ready  fo'  de  next  job." 

Bentham  smiled. 

"  I  didn't  expect  your  expedition  to  terminate  thus, 
Jupe,"  he  said ;  ''  but  you  couldn't  have  done  other- 
wise under  the  circumstances.  What  did  you  hear 
Gilraor  and  the  captain  say  before  \'ou  were  caught?" 

"  De}''  war  talkin'  about  you,  Massa  Bob,  Dat 
Flash  Gilmor's  bound  to  fight  you  arter  de  Destroyer 
sails," 

'•  Oho !"  ejaculated  the  young  gunner.  "  He  had 
better  fight  before  that  event  takes  place.  Well,  what 
else,  Jupe  ?" 

"  From  what  I  heard  I  calculate  dat  dey  war  goin' 
ober  some  plans  dey  had  laid  some  time  afore.  Cap'a 
Nugent  him  tell  Flash  how  him  will  fix  up  a  stateroom 
fo'  a  lady  passenger  him  expects  to  carry  from  Nassau 
when  de  Seabird  puts  to  sea." 

"  His  words  can  have  but  one  meaning,"  exclaimed 
Bentham,  "Flash  Gilmor  is  at  the  bottom  of  the 
whole  scheme.  Not  content  with  murdering  my  uncle 
he  wants  to  get  Norah  in  his  power.  She  is  the  ex- 
pected passenger.  Let  the  rascal  do  his  worst  if  ho 
can.     Jupe,  we  must  go  to  work  to-night," 

"I'se  ready,  Massa  Bob,  Jes'  work  out  de  plan,  an' 
let  Jupe  know  what  he's  to  do," 


THE  BLOCKADE  EUNNER.  191 

Benthiim  and  his  faithful  friend  were  under  the 
roof  of  a  man  whom  they  could  trust. 

There  were  a  few  hearts  in  Nassau  that  beat  for  the 
Union  cause  ;  but  the  great  majority  were  in  sympathy 
with  the  Confederacy. 

It  was  through  the  few  that  the  loyal  cruisers  were 
kept  posted  about  the  movements  of  Confederate 
privateers  and  blockade  runners  that  arrived  at  and 
departed  from  the  wharves. 

Bentham  had  been  told  by  Captain  Graham,  how 
and  where  to  find  the  Union  sympathizers,  and  after 
Jupe  had  disposed  of  Black  Tom,  Captain  Powers' 
spy,  the  twain  lost  no  time  in  reaching  the  house. 

The  Unionist  received  them  cordially,  and  offered 
them  concealment  and  any  assistance  that  lay  in  his 
power. 

His  sympathies  were  well  known,  but  he  stood  so 
high  in  the  opinions  of  the  British  authorities  that,  up 
to  the  night  with  which  we  are  now  dealing,  he  had 
not  been  openly  molested. 

The  Confederacy,  however,  had  dogged  his  steps 
with  its  keenest  spies,  but  he  had  baffled  them  all.  He 
was  fearless,  cunning  and  cautious,  a  match  for  his 
foes. 

This  man  entered  the  room  shortly  after  Jupe  had 
finished  the  narrative  of  his  adventures. 

He  was  a  middle-aged  person,  handsome,  robust  and 
tall,  and  a  good  natured  smile  appeared  at  the  corners 
of  his  mouth  as  he  shut  the  door. 

"  Jupe  is  back  again,"  said  Bentham,  addressing  the 
newcomer. 

"  So  I  see,"  was  the  response  ;  "  but  if  he  did  not  do 
better  work  this  time  than  he  did  when  he  handled 


X93  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

Captain  Powers'  spy  I  fear  he  will  not  be  of  much 
service  to  you,  Mr.  Benthain." 

The  young  gunner  started. 

"What  has  happened?"  he  asked,  betraying  some 
nervousness. 

•'  Black  Tom  is  on  board  the  Destroyer." 

Bentham  sprung  up. 

'"Golly!  didn't  I  settle  dat  black  spy?"  exclaimed 
Jupe,  his  distended  eyes  seemingly  on  the  eve  of  flying 
from  their  sockets. 

"  You  certainly  did  not,"  was  the  answer.  "  After 
you  stabbed  him,  you  threw  him  into  a  hole  that 
yawned  before  you  ?" 

"  Yes,  massa." 

"  Well,  that  hole  led  into  the  cellar  of  one  of  the 
most  prominent  Southern  residents  of  Nassau.  Tom 
was  found  shortl}'  afterward,  not  dead  by  any  means, 
although  in  a  sad  condition.  He  was  able  to  say  that 
he  belonged  to  the  new  privateer,  Destroyer,  and  lie 
was  conveyed  thither.  Captain  Powers  was  there 
when  he  arrived,  and  he  knows  that  you  are  in 
Nassau." 

The  sympathizer's  last  words  were  addressed  to 
Bentham,  whose  eyes  were  filled  with  astonishment. 

"  He  is  hunting  me  now?"  he  said,  in  a  voice  full  of 
defiance. 

"  He  is  in  the  cit}'.     I  need  not  tell  you  his  m.ission." 

The  young  gunner  was  silent  for  a  minute. 

He  saw  the  deperate  situation  of  affairs. 

His  presence  in  Nassau  was  known  to  his  old  rival, 
Captain  Powers,  and  that  before  he  had  seen  Norah, 
to  protect  wliom  he  had  fearlessl}'  entered  the  lion's 
den. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  193 

The  captain  of  tbe  Destroyer  was  liable  to  arrive  at 
tiie  door  at  any  moment ;  then  his  daring  expedition 
Avould  end  in— smoke ! 

"  As  I  have  told  you,  I  have  heard  about  you  many 
times,"  said  the  Unionist,  breaking  in  upon  our  hero's 
thoughts.  "  You  are  a  brave  man,  Robert  Bentham, 
and  the  cause  we  both  serve  cannot  afford  to  lose  vou. 
You  must  not  fall  into  Dick  Powers'  hands.  As  for 
Norah,  I  will  see  that  she  is  protected  in  spite  of  Flash 
Gilmor  and  the  privateer.     You  must  leave  Nassau." 

"Without  seeing  Norah — without  accomplishing 
anything  ?     Nev^er  !"  exclaimed  the  young  gunner. 

"  Dat's  de  talk  !"  put  in  Jupe.  "  We'se  hyer  fo'  a 
purpose,  an'  all  de  Captain  Powerses  in  de  world  ain't 
goin'  to  skeer  us  off." 

The  Unionist  looked  serious. 

"  I  regret  your  determination — not  for  my  sake  at 
all,  but  wholly  for  your  own,"  he  said,  continuing  to 
address  Bentham.  Captain  Powers  will  not  leave  a 
single  stone  unturned  in  his  search  for  you.  He  will 
make  the  authorities  open  my  house  to  him." 

"  Then  we  will  leave  your  home,"  said  Bentham. 
"  I  do  not  want  to  compromise  you.  No!  there  are 
other  hiding  places  in  Nassau.  1  am  not  wholly  un- 
acquainted with  the  place." 

The  gunner  moved  toward  the  door  as  he  finished, 
but  the  Unionist  stepped  before  him. 

"  I  do  not  fear  Dick  Powers'  hunt — don't  think  so 
for  a  moment,"  he  said,  laying  his  hand  on  Bentham's 
arm,  and  looking  him  calmly  in  the  eye.  "  My  roof 
shall  shelter  you  while  3'ou  stay  in  Nassau  ;  but  when 
I  advised  departure  I  thought  I  was  acting  for  your 
good.     You  will  not  go  ?" 


194  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

«  I  shall  stay  !" 

Those  three  words  were  enough. 

The  Unionist  moved  across  the  room  and  opened  a 
door  of  whose  existence  up  to  that  time  the  gunner 
was  not  aware. 

"  Dar  wasn't  a  do'  dar  a  minit  ago  !"  ejaculated  Jupe, 
astonished,  as  the  sympathizer  motioned  them  into  a 
room  thus  displayed.  "  Dis  am  a  wonderful  house, 
whar  de  owner  kin  make  do's  in  a  minit  in  de  solid 
wall." 

Having  stepped  across  the  mysterious  threshold 
Bentham  and  the  darky  found  themselvt^s  in  a  small, 
dimly  lighted  room,  entirely  devoid  of  furniture. 

The  Unionist  next  raised  a  trapdoor  in  the  floor, 
revealing  a  dark,  cavernous  opening,  and  llie  head  of 
a  flight  of  steps. 

"We  will  descend,"  he  said  to  Bentham,  who  in- 
stantly clutched  his  arm. 

"This  is  flight!"  said  the  young  gunner,  hv^sitating 
— even  drawing  back. 

"It  is  the  avenue  to  safety,"  w^as  the  answer.  "  You 
are  still  in  Nassau  ;  you  are  not  going  to  leave  it. 
Follow  me  !" 

Thus  answered,  Bentham  descended  the  steps  at  tiie 
Unionist's  beck,  he  was  in  turn  followed  by  Jupe,  who 
entered  the  underground  apartment  with  many  fears. 

The  trapdoor  shut  without  noise  above  the  party 
who  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  stair  in  a  dark  place  whose 
dimensions  they  could  not  see. 

The  Avenger's  gunner  felt  a  hand  on  his  arm,  and 
a  moment  later  he  was  treading  a  corridor  as  dark  as 
midnight. 

Jupe  was  stepping  at  his  heels. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  195 

This  journey  terminated  at  the  end  of  twenty  min- 
utes, and  the  sympathizer  led  the  way  up  a  flight  of 
steps  into  a  room  well  lighted  by  a  lamp. 

Jupe  let  slip  a  sigh  of  relief,  but  did  not  speak. 

"  Powers  will  never  find  you  here,  unless " 

The  speaker  paused,  for  a  gentle  rap  sounded  on  a 
door  at  his  right. 

-  Stepping  lightly  across  the  room,  he  opened  the 
portal  an  inch,  and  Benthara  caught  a  glimpse  of  a 
young  girl's  face. 

"  Thank  heaven  for  your  coming,  father !"  said  a 
woman's  voice.  "  Three  men  have  been  in  the  garden 
for  an  hour." 

The  Unionist  started  and  turned  to  Bentham. 

"You  see  how  1  am  watched,"  he  said  with  a 
smile. 

At  that  moment  a  loud  knocking  startled  every 
one. 

"  Heavens  !  They  have  discovered  all !"  gasped  the 
girl. 

The  3^oung  gunner  drew  his  revolver  and  prepared 
for  a  desperate  resistance. 


196  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 


CHAPTER  XXIY. 

HUNTED    DOWN. 

It  was,  indeed,  a  critical  moment  for  Bob  Benthara. 

The  house  which  they  had  reached  by  traversing 
the  underground  passage  belonged  to  the  Union 
sympathizer,  like  the  one  they  had  left. 

Discovery  so  soon  was  an  event  entirely  unlooked- 
for. 

It  was  more  than  likely  that  the  three  men  seen  in 
the  garden  by  the  girl  during  her  father's  absence 
were  spies  in  Captain  Powers'  employ. 

The  loud  knocking  still  echoed  throughout  the  room 
when  the  young  gunner  stepped  forward  with  drawn 
revolver. 

"  Ask  who  is  there,"  said  the  Unionist  calmly,  ad- 
dressing his  daughter. 

The  young  girl  went  fearlessly  to  the  door. 

"Who  are  you  ?"  she  asked. 

There  was  no  reply  for  a  moment,  but  subdued 
voices  told  that  a  number  of  men  were  holding  a  con- 
sultation outside. 

"  They  are  not  our  friends — that  is  certain,"  said 
the  Unionist,  glancing  at  the  gunner,  who  stood  erect 
with  eyes  fastened  on  the  door.  "  If  you  will  go  back 
to  the  tunnel,  I  will  admit  them.  You  and  Jupe  can 
follow  the  passage  back  to  the  other  house.  It  cannot 
mislead  you." 

Bentham  hesitated. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  197 

"Yes,  go!"  cried  the  young  girl,  springing  toward 
him,  and  laying  a  white  hand  on  his  arm,  "For 
heaven's  sake,  sir,  carr}'  out  father's  instructions.  We 
must  let  the  authorities  search  the  house," 

"Ain't  you  going  to  open  the  door?"  assailed 
the  ears  of  all  before  Bentham  could  reply, 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  daughter,  then  adding  to 
Bentham,  in  a  low  tone  :  "  To  the  tunnel — quick  ! 
You  have  not  a  moment  to  lose !" 

The  young  gunner  was  about  to  obey  despite  his 
Inclinations,  which  were  to  stay  and  fight  it  out  with 
the  men  on  the  outside,  when  a  heavy  body  fell  against 
the  door  and  a  loud  voice  exclaimed  : 

"  We  can't  parley  all  night.  Business  is  business. 
The  Yankee  gunner  shall  not  escape  us!" 

"  No  !"  grated  Bentham  ;  "  the  Yankee  gunner  will 
stay  and  show  his  hand.  Here,  Jupe,  stand  ready 
to  give  these  fellows  a  warm  reception  when  they 
come  in." 

The  giant  negro  sprung  forward  with  an  ejaculation 
of  eagerness,  Avhile  the  cheeks  of  the  Unionist  and  his 
daughter  grew  pale. 

The  next  moment  the  door  was  heavily  thumped 
the  second  time,  the  lock  gave  way,  and,  as  it  flew 
open,  a  tall,  heavily-bearded  and  dark-faced  man  fell 
headlong  into  the  room. 

Others  promptl}^  succeeded  him  until,  in  a  moment, 
six  had  entered. 

"  We  want  that  infamous  Yankee  gunner  !"  cried 
the  head  intruder,  as  he  faced  the  Unionist.  "  Wo 
are  Confederate  sailors,  and " 

"  I  am  here  !"  interrupted  Bentham,  presenting  his 
revolver  so  near  the  ruffian's  face  that  he  started  back 


198  THE  BLOCKADE  BUNXEB. 

with  surprise.  "  If  you  seek  the  chief  gunner  of  the 
United  States  cruiser  Avenger,  you  need  go  no 
further." 

"Great  heavens!  Bob  Bentham  himself  1" 

The  gunner  smiled. 

"  Dat's  jes'  who  he  am,"  put  in  Jupe,  who  faced 
the  surprised  group  like  a  lion  about  to  spring.  "  Fse 
heart  an'  soul  wid  Massa  Bob  whatever  he  does ;  so  if 
you  men  want  'im,  hyer  he  is." 

"  You  surrender,  of  course,  Mr.  Bentham,"  said  the 
leader  of  the  hunters,  throwing  a  quick  glance  through 
his  party  as  if  to  call  the  gunner's  attention  to  its 
superiority.     "  Our  orders  are  to  secure  you." 

A  smile  curled  Bentham's  lips. 

"Who  sent  you  out  ?"  he  asked. 

"  Captain  Powers,  of  the  Destroyer." 

"I  thought  so.  Tell  Captain  Powers  that  1  do  not 
surrender  to  his  agents." 

"Then " 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  resist!"  was  the  thrilling  interruption; 
and  the  revolver  was  suddenly  lifted  and  thrust  into 
the  faces  of  the  group.  "  Gentlemen,  I  do  not  desire 
bloodshed,  but  T  am  not  your  prisoner.  The  man  who 
lifts  a  hand  or  moves  falls  dead  where  he  stands  !" 

"  Dat's  de'  talk  dat  means  sumffin',"  cried  Jupe. 
"  Gemmen,  Massa  Bentham  hab  got  more  shoot  in 
dem  eyes  of  his'n  den  any  oder  man  in  Nassau." 

Dark  looks  fell  upon  the  negro  from  the  eyes  of  the 
Confederate  band,  but  no  one  replied  to  His  words. 

"  We  were  not  to  shed  blood,"  said  the  leader, 
addressing  Bentham.  "  You  have  the  drop  on  us,  and 
a  human  life  should  be  valued  above  all  things.  About 
face,  boys.     We  will  report  to  the  captain." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  199 

The  brawny  sailors  turned  away  with  growls  of 
mingled  disappointment  and  rage,  but  the  fierce  looks 
that  they  darted  at  Bentham  told  them  that  the  drama 
had  not  been  played  through. 

"I  will  not  say  good-night,"  said  the  leader,  as  he 
paused  on  the  threshold  and  turned  to  the  little  group 
that  occupied  the  room.  "  We  may  meet  again  before 
morning,  I  may  add  that  Captain  Powers  is  deter- 
mined to  carry  out  his  plans.  Your  servant's  knife, 
Mr.  Bentham,  failed  to  do  its  work  thoroughly." 

Then,  before  any  one  could  reply,  he  turned  away, 
and  the  sympathizer's  daughter  shut  the  door  behind 
the  gang. 

For  a  moment  after  this  unexpected  riddance  no- 
body spoke. 

The  situation  seemed  to  fall  like  a  pall  over  all. 

What  was  to  be  done  ? 

"Golly!  I  war  itchiu'  to  gib  dat  head  Confed  a 
thumpin' !"  exclaimed  Jupe,  showing  his  sable  fists. 
"Didn't  I  know  'im,  de  ole  rapscallion?  He  war 
Jasper  Jones,  de  man  what  cheated  Massa  Mowbray 
outen  six  niggers  befo'  de  wah.  I  come  mighty  near 
bein'  one  ob  dem  coons,  an'  now  I'd  like  to  pulverize 
'im  fo'  dat  trick.  Dey'U  come  back — no  mistake  'bout 
dat." 

"  That  is  true,  Jupe,"  said  the  girl.  "  Those  men 
have  not  gone  off  for  good.  Father,  Mr.  Bentham 
must  not  be  here  when  they  return." 

"  I  will  not  be,"  was  the  gunner's  quick  response. 
"  As  I  have  said,  I  do  not  wish  to  compromise  you.  I 
should  have  retired  to  the  tunnel  at  your  suggestion, 
my  friend,  but  those  fellows  made  my  blood  flow  like 
molten  lava  through  my  veins,  and " 


200  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"There!"  was  the  quiet  interruption,  and  the 
sympathizer  even  smiled  as  he  spoke.  "  I  fear  not  for 
myself.  You  see  those  men  didn't  have  anything  like 
a  search  warrant  from  the  English  authorities  here. 
We  should  have  been  warned  in  ample  time  if  they 
had.  That  is  why  they  took  me  by  surprise.  I  am 
convinced  that  they  will  come  again  determined  to 
secure  you." 

"  They  will  subject  your  daughter  and  yourself  to 
insult  if  I  am  not  found." 

"  They  dare  not  go  that  far ;  and  nobody  knows 
that  better  than  Captain  Dick  Powers,"  was  the 
response.  "  They  will  search  the  house.  I  shall  not 
resist,  for  reasons  best  known  to  myself.  They  might 
even  discover  the  tunnel." 

"  Hark  !"  said  the  girl. 

The  Unionist  bounded  instantly  toward  the  room 
into  which  Bentham  and  Jupe  had  lately  emerged 
from  the  subterranean  passage. 

The  gunner  saw  him  stoop  and  listen  intently  with 
one  ear  near  the  floor. 

"  Captaip  Powers  has  two  bands  on  the  lookout  for 
you,  Bentham,"  he  said,  rising  suddenly  and  facing  the 
anxious  gunner.  "  The  other  one  has  discovered  the 
tunnel,     I  hear  them  in  it  now." 

"There  must  be  a  traitor  somewhere,"  said  Ben- 
tham. 

The  Unionist  said  nothing ;  but  his  brows  darkened. 

"Follow  my  instructions  this  time  and  ask  no  ques- 
tions," he  said  in  hurried  but  serious  tones  to  Bentham. 
"It  is  a  good  thing  that  you  did  not  take  to  the  tunnel 
awhile  ago." 

"  But  you^ " 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  201 

"  I  tell  you  that  Jennie  and  I  are  able  to  take  care 
of  ourselves.  Follow  me — no  questions,  mind  you.  I 
will  not  let  you  stay  here  another  moment.     Come." 

He  led  the  way  across  the  room. 

"  Go  with  father,'*^  said  the  girl  imploringly  to  the 
young  gunner.  "  He  will  direct  you  to  a  house  which 
all  the  Confederates  in  Nassau  dare  not  enter  without 
authority." 

In  another  minute  Bentham  and  Jupe  had  left  the 
house,  and  stood  in  the  dark  garden  behind  it. 

"  I  am  sure  that  the  coast  is  clear,"  whispered  the 
Unionist.     "Follow  this  path — you  see  it?" 

"  Yes." 

''It  will  lead  you  to  a  narrow  street.  Take  to  the 
right  and  count  the  houses  on  your  left  hand.  At  the 
tenth  one  stop,  look  behind  you  carefully,  then  enter 
the  yard  and  knock  thrice  at  the  door.  It  will  be 
opened  by  a  young  woman  to  whom  3^ou  will  say  : 
'We  come  from  Throxton,'  as  you  enter.  You  will 
then  be  safe.  Go  1  I  will  meet  you  again.  Recollect 
that  you  have  not  yet  fought  Flash  Gilmor,  and  that 
the  Destroyer  may  sail  the  high  seas  under  the  Stars 
and  Stripes,  and  not  with  the  new  flag  at  her  peak." 

A  pressure  of  hands  followed  the  last  words,  and 
Bentham  and  his  faithful  companion  soon  found  them- 
selves traversing  the  gloomy  street  which  they  found 
at  the  foot  of  the  Unionist's  garden. 

We  may  imagine  the  eagerness  w4th  which  the  fear- 
less young  gunner  counted  the  houses  at  his  left. 

In  front  of  the  tenth  one  they  halted  according  to 
the  Unionist's  instructions,  and  having  made  sure  that 
they  were  not  observed,  Bentham  went  forward  and 
gave  the  three  raps. 


20)2  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

Almost  immediately  the  door  was  opened  by  a 
young  girl  of  exceeding  loveliness,  to  whom  the  gunner 
bowed  with  his  foot  on  the  threshold. 

"  We  come  from  Throxton,"  he  said. 

There  was  a  low  exclamation  of  assent,  and  as  the 
door  was  still  held  open  Jupe  went  forward. 

As  the  door  closed  behind  them  Bentham  caught 
sight  of  a  female  figure  on  a  sofa,  and  a  minute  after- 
ward a  young  lady  stood  before  him. 

"  Norah  !"  cried  the  young  man,  starting  back.. 

"Robert !"   was  the  response. 

"  Wal,  ef  it  tain't  de  young  missus  may  I  neber  see 
ole  Caroliny  any  mo'  !"  ejaculated  Jupe. 

It  was  a  strange,  unexpected  meeting. 

For  a  motnent  the  lovers  stood  face  to  face,  then 
their  hands  and  lips  met. 

The  girl  who  had  opened  the  door  looked  wonder- 
ingly  on. 

"  This  is  Mr.  Bentham,  the  Yankee  gunner,  Dora," 
said -Norah,  turning  to  Captain  Powell's  niece.  "I 
am  sure  he  is  a  hunted  man,  and " 

"  He  is  safe  here  !"  she  said  calmly. 


THE  BLOVKADE  ET/NNER.  203 


CHAPTER  XXY. 

CAPTAIN    powers'    NEW    SPY. 

Captain  Powers  was  determined  to  unearth  Bob  in 
Nassau. 

He  had  secured  a  new  vessel,  which  was  to  more 
than  take  the  place  of  the  Swiftwing  on  the  seas. 

This  ship,  called  the  Destroyer,  as  we  have  already 
informed  the  reader,  lay  at  the  wharf  almost  ready 
for  sea. 

Her  sides  were  plated,  her  smokestack  and  decks 
well  protected,  and  she  carried  the  best  guns  that 
money  could  procure. 

This  was  the  vessel  destined  by  her  captain  to  be- 
come mistress  of  the  seas — overcome  the  Avenger,  and 
sink  her  beneath  the  waves  that  now  rolled  restlessly 
over  the  Swiftwing. 

Powers  had  recruited  a  crew  on  whom  he  could 
depend. 

It  consisted  of  men  who  had  seen  some  desperate 
service,  and  who  were  ready  to  engage  in  any  enter- 
prise that  offered  itself. 

They  all  knew  the  man  under  whom  they  had 
enlisted,  for  Dick  Powers  had  a  reputation  for  daring 
which  lifted  him  high  in  the  estimation  of  thousands. 

A  part  of  this  crew  were  the  men  who  had  driven 
Benthara  and  Jupe  from  the  Union  sympathizer's 
house,  forcing  them  to  take  refuge  elsewhere. 

Another  portion  of  the  band  entered  the  other  housa 


304  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

and  by  diligent  searching  discovered  the  tunnel,  into 
which  they  plunged,  hoping  to  overtake  the  gunner. 

"  Foiled  in  their  attempts  to  capture  Bentham,  the 
sailors  went  back  to  Powers  with  their  report. 

He  listened  with  flashing  eyes  and  clinched  teeth. 

"  So  he  escaped  you,  eh  ?"  he  said.  "  You  found 
him,  but  he  got  away.  Why  didn't  you  set  a  watch 
on  the  house  when  you  left  ?  Never  raind  !  he  shall 
not  escape  me.  I  will  make  Nassau  the  warmest  place 
he  was  ever  in.  I  will  run  him  to  earth,  for  I  do  not 
intend  to  leave  port  until  I  can  carry  him  with  me 
ironed  in  the  Destroyer's  hold." 

This  was  a  resolve  which  Captain  Powers  deter- 
mined to  carry  out. 

He  forgot  in  his  rage  to  send  the  sailors  back  to  the 
trail,  but  descended  to  his  cabin,  where  a  giant  negro 
lay  on  a  pallet  on  the  floor. 

"  Wal,  Marse  Powers,  di«l  ye  cotch  de  rascal  ?"  asked 
the  black,  as  he  turned  and  looked  at  the  privateer. 

"  Not  yet,  Tom." 

"  Him  got  clear  off,  eh  ?" 

"  For  awhile — that  is  all." 

"  An'  Jupe  de  debbil  wid  'im  ?" 
•     "  Yes." 

The. wounded  negro  grated  his  teeth. 

"  I'se  gwine  to  die,  Marse  Powers,  but  I  wants  to 
feel  Jasper's  throat  first,"  was  hissed  from  between  the 
darky's  teeth.  "  Jes'  let  me  git  my  black  claws  dar, 
an'  Fll  cross  de  riber  widout  a  murmur.  Dar's  a 
million  knives  stickin'  in  my  back  dis  blessed  minute, 
but  it  won't  be  fo'  long,  Marse  Powers — not  fo'  long. 
Ole  Tom's  nigh  de  riber  now,  bery  nigh ;  but  him 
want  to  clutch  Jupe's  throat  afo'  he  crosses." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  -^       205 

It  was  evident  that  the  spy  was  near  his  end,  for  a 
strange  rattling  in  his  throat  followed  the  last  word. 

Captain  Powers  bestowed  another  glance  upon  him 
and  left  the  cabin — left  the  man  who  had  served  him 
faithfully  to  die  alone. 

Ten  minutes  later  the  privateersman  Avas  in  Nassau. 

He  was  unattended  and  hurried  down  the  darkened 
streets  as  if  eager  to  reach  a  certain  point  within  a 
given  time. 

"Nassau  isn't  large  enough  to  afford  him  a  hiding 
place !"  he  muttered,  his  thoughts  returning  to  his 
enemy.  "If  this  city  was  London,  he  should  not 
escape  me.  My  men  failed,  and  that  when  they  stood 
face  to  face  with  him,  but  I  will  not.  I  want  to  pay 
him  back  for  that  sword-thrust  on  the  banks  of  Cape 
Fear.  By  heavens,  he  shall  discover  that  I  pay  my 
debts  with  the  interest  of  vengeance !" 

A  short  distance  further  on  Powers  knocked  at  the 
door  of  a  house  that  stood  back  from  the  street,  with 
a  garden  in  front  of  it. 

There  were  no  lights  about  the  premises  to  show 
that  they  were  inhabited  ;  but  this  did  not  deter  the 
captain. 

His  raps  had  scarcely  ceased  when  the  door  w^as 
opened — just  wide  enough  to  admit  a  man — and  he 
sprung  inside. 

"  Captain  Powers !"  exclaimed  a  voice  as  the  priva- 
teersman halted  beyond  the  threshold. 

"  It  is  I,  Peter.     Where  is  Mardo  «" 

The  man  who  confronted  the  visitor  in  the  dimly 
lighted  and  almost  bare  room  disappeared  for  a  mo- 
ment to  usher  in  a  dark-skinned,  snake-eyed  man  who 
had  the  movements  of  a  serpent. 


206  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

He  was  a  Malay — this  Mardo — a  born  spy  and 
devil.  He  knew  every  hole  and  corner  of  Nassau,  and 
the  creese  that  he  carried  at  his  belt  had  doubtless 
taken  the  life  of  more  than  one  man  while  he  served 
different  masters. 

He  instantly  recognized  Powers,  whom  he  approached 
and  touched  with  a  thug's  smile. 

"  Does  the  captain  want  Mardo  ?"  he  inquired. 

"  I  do,"  was  the  reply,  as  Powers  made  a  sign  for 
the  person  who  had  admitted  him  to  retire,  which  sign 
was  obeyed. 

He  was  alone  with  the  Malay,  who  had  been  brought 
to  Nassau  five  years  previous  to  our  story  by  a  sea 
captain  who  wanted  a  rival  hunted  down. 

We  need  not  record  what  passed  between  the  pair 
in  that  old  house,  so  dark  outside  and  so  dimly  lighted 
within. 

Suffice  to  say  that  half  an  hour  later  a  crouching 
figure  went  through  the  Union  sympathizer's  garden 
like  a  bloodhound  on  the  trail. 

Escape  a  Malay  spy  if  you  can  ! 

The  man  who  stood  in  the  old  house  waiting  im- 
patiently for  the  spy's  return  was  Captain  Dick 
Powers. 

He  was  trusting  his  sailors  no  longer ;  but  had  put 
all  his  dependence  in  one  man  whose  eyes  seemingly 
could  look  through  a  stone  wall 

The  crouching  Malay  was  on  the  right  trail. 

He  knew  that  two  men  had  crossed  the  garden  and 
gained  the  street  beyond,  but  there  his  trail  seemed  to 
end.     Still  he  did  not  despair  ! 

He  had  the  perseverance  of  the  born  sleuth  ;  there- 
fore he  kept  on. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  207 

With  the  noiseless  tread  of  the  panther  he  crept 
from  house  to  house,  listening  under  the  window  sills, 
and  among  the  trees  which  fronted  nearly  all  the 
residences. 

His  journey  took  him  to  Captain  Powell's  house. 

He  crouched  at  one  of  the  windows. 

Why  did  he  start,  and  what  made  his  eyes  twinkle 
so  maliciously  ? 

Had  the  crawling  Malay  spy  discovered  anything? 

One  thing  is  certain — that  his  trail  ended  here. 

He  listened  beneath  no  more  windows,  but  glided 
away  and  soon  disappeared. 

If  the  Malay  had  gcod  eyes,  his  ears  were  also 
excellent. 

When  close  to  the  old  house  where  Captain  Powers 
awaited  him,  he  stopped  and  listened. 

Had  he  been  followed  ? 

At  any  rate,  after  listening  awhile  he  drew  his  creese 
and  stepped  behind  a  tree  near  by. 

There  he  stood  waiting  for  the  person  approaching 
to  come  up. 

That  individual  did  not  seem  willing  to  oblige  Mar- 
do,  for  all  at  once  the  footsteps  ceased  ;  they  sounded 
again  a  moment  later,  but  going  back. 

"Spy  'fraid  to  come  on!"  growled  the  Malay,  dis- 
appointedly. "Santissima!  Mardo  will  find  him  if 
him  afraid  to  meet  Mardo." 

So  saying  the  yellow  leopard  turned  and  went  back 
after  the  person  who  had  evidently  been  following 
him. 

The  Malay's  feet  gave  forth  no  sound  as  eager 
bounds  sent  him  swiftly  forward. 

Pie  still  carried  the  naked  creese  in  his  right  hand — 
ready  to  bury  it  in  the  back  of  his  victim. 


208  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

At  last  his  eyes  caught  sight  of  the  person  who  had 
tracked  him. 

The  man  was  moving  toward  Captain  Powell's 
house,  wholly  oblivious  of  the  terrible  danger  that 
threatened  him. 

All  at  once  with  a  leap  not  unlike  the  airy  spring  of 
the  jaguar,  Mardo  went  through  the  air,  and  alighted 
on  the  shoulders  of  the  spy. 

There  was  an  exclamation  of  horror  uttered  in  a 
'  thick  voice,  and  the  person  attacked  whirled  while  it 
still  sounded. 

"  Look  heah,  you  mean  spy,  I'se  Jupe !"  and  a  black 
band  clutched  the  Malay's  uplifted  arm  before  it  could 
drive  the  creese  home. 

Mardo  uttered  an  oath  of  madness  ! 

He  attempted  to  free  himself,  but  the  giant  negro 
was  too  quick  for  him. 

If  the  Malay  possessed  the  agility  of  a  cat,  the  black 
had  the  strength  of  a  lion,  and  coupled  to  it  was  the 
rage  of  a  wounded  king  of  beasts. 

How  the  eyes  of  the  two  spies  glittered  as  they 
glared  at  one  another  in  the  light  that  came  from  a 
window  near  by ! 

"You  no  nigger  dis  time !"  said  Jupe,  unable  to 
decide  his  assailant's  nationality.  "But  I  know  what 
you'se  arter,  all  de  same.  Want  Massa  Bob,  eh  ? 
Cap'n  Powers  sent  3'ou,  mebbe." 

At  the  mention  of  the  privateer's  name  the  Malay 
started,  and  again  attempted  to  use  his  knife ;  but  the 
black  prevented. 

"  You  go  see  Massa  Bob,  dat's  sartin,"  continued 
Jupe,  whose  grip  could  not  be  shaken  loose.  "  Him 
anxious  to  see  what  kind  ob  spies  Cap'n  Dick  find  in 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  209 

Nassau.  Heah,  no  squirmin'  fo'  dis  chile  kin  hold  you 
fast  till  Gabrul  blow  his  horn,  if  him  wants  to." 

While  the  last  sentence  was  falling  from  the  darky's 
tongue  he  was  walking  rapidly  away,  carrying  Mardo 
with  him,  despite  his  struggles,  which  momentarily 
grew  fainter,  for  one  of  the  sable  hands,  which  had  the 
pressing  power  of  a  vice,  was  at  his  throat,  almost  as 
delicate  as  a  woman's. 

A  few  steps  brought  Jupe  and  his  prisoner  to  Cap- 
tain Powell's  house. 

He  sprung  toward  it — and  struck  the  door  three 
times  with  his  foot. 

A  light  cry  from  the  lips  of  a  woman  was  h«ard,  as 
Jupe  strode  through  the  open  door. 

"  Heavens !  it  is  Mardo  the  Mg,lay !"  exclaimed 
Dora. 

"  Dis  yaller  dogprowlin'  round  too  promiscuously!" 
answered  Jupe,  surveying  the  startled  trio  whom  he 
confronted — Bentham  and  the  two  women.  "  Him 
spring  on  Jupe  like  a  catamount ;  but  dis  chile  toa 
quick  fo'  him.     I'll  fix  him  now  !" 

At  that  instant  the  darky  raised  Mardo  as  high 
above  his  head  as  his  long  sable  arras  would  elevate 
him. 

The  spy  almost  touched  the  ceiling. 

Fire  flashed  from  Jupe's  eyes. 

"  Him  no  git  away  like  Black  Tom  did !"  he  grated. 

Bentham  saw  the  negro's  intention,  and  bounded 
forward  to  prevent  the  deed  about  to  be  committed. 

'•  Hold  Jupe  !"  he  exclaimed.  "  No  crime  in  this 
house  !" 

"  No — no !  Massa  Bob.  Dis  snake  shan't  crawl 
after  you  any  mo' !"  replied  Jupe,  retreating  from  b^ 
fore  the  young  gunner. 


210  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

The  next  moment  the  negro  seemed  to  increase 
several  inches  in  stature,  and  all  at  once  Mardo  the 
Malay  was  thrown  upon  the  floor  with  a  force  great 
enough  to  break  ever}^  bone  in  his  body. 

"  Now  let  de  yaller  serpint  crawl  if  he  kin  !"  ex- 
claimed Jupe,  casting  a  look  of  triumph  upon  the 
privateer's  spy,  who  lay  on  the  floor  apparently  dead, 
but  with  his  knife,  the  deadly  creese,  still  clutched  in 
his  right  hand. 

The  two  women  started  back  with  blanched  faces. 

"  You  have  killed  him,  Jupe  !"  exclaimed  Bentham. 

"  Dat  seems  to  be  a  fact,  Massa  Bob,"  was  the 
giant's  answer,  as  he  grinned.  "  Wonder  what  Cap'n 
Dick  'd  say  ef  he  could  look  in  heah  an'  see  de  Malay 
man  on  de  fio' — dead  ?" 

If  Jupe  had  failed  to  finish  the  captain's  first  spy, 
Black  Tom,  he  had  made  sure  work  of  the  second. 

Mardo  the  Malay  was  dead,  killed  by  that  crushing 
descent  to  the  floor  from  the  hands  of  his  captor. 

After  years  of  spying  the  yellow  leopard  had  met 
his  match,  and  Jupe  had  again  saved  Bentham's  life. 

If  Captain  Powers  would  secure  his  rival,  the  loyal 
young  gunner,  he  must  first  rid  the  world  of  Jupe, 
■who  seemed  destined  to  baflle  him  on  every  occasion. 

Ah !  he  may  wait  in  the  little  old  house  for  his 
yellovv  spy. 

He  would  never  come  again. 


l-Ua  BLOCKABE  RUNNER.  2il 


CHAPTEE  XXVI. 

CAPTAIN    POWELL    BOBS    UP    SERENELY. 

While  the  events  that  occupy  the  two  last  chapters 
were  transpiring  in  Nassau,  a  boat  rowed  by  two  men 
was  approaching  the  cit\^. 

One  of  the  men  was  Foulweather  Tom,  late  pilot  of 
the  Foxhound  ;  the  other  was  well  dressed,  like  a  ship's 
master,  but  his  garments  had  at  one  time  been  sat- 
urated with      f.ter,  as  could  easily  be  seen. 

He  rowed  with  his  companion,  and  their  strokes 
sent  the  boat  swiftlj'^  through  the  water. 

"  We're  getting  in,  Tom,"  the  well-dressed  man  said 
to  his  comrade.  "  A  few  more  strokes  will  take  us  to 
the  dock.  The  Foxhound's  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea. 
She  did  not  do  that  accursed  Yankee  ship  any  good. 
They  didn't  hoist. their  flag  over  her.  By  Jove!  I 
hated  to  blow  the  old  ship  up  ;  but  I  was  bound  to 
stick  to  my  word.  They  think  I  went  to  pieces  with 
the  bark,  no  doubt,  therefore  they  didn't  hunt  for  me 
long.  Nobody  saw  me  drop  into  the  sea  after  I 
started  the  fuse  that  let  the  hammer  fall  on  the 
torpedo's  cap  after  it  had  burned  a  certain  distance. 
They'll  be  surprised  when  they  learn  that  Captain 
Powell  is  still  engaged  in  his  old  business.  Pll  havea 
new  ship  soon,  Tom,  and  over  m\'  cabin  door  I'll  write 
the  words  you  used  to  see  on  board  the  Foxhound : 
'  This  ship  will  never  be  taken  by  the  enemy.'  " 

The  pilot  looked  in  Powell's  face. 


213  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"  "Will  there  be  a  torpedo  in  the  new  ship's  hold, 
cap'n  ?"  he  asked. 

Powell  smiled  grimly, 

"  I  wouldn't  go  to  sea  without  one,"  he  answered. 
"  But  look  yonder,  Tom — the  lights  of  Nassau  !" 

The  blockade  runner  pointed  to  the  many  lights  of 
the  island  city  which  were  reflected  in  the  water  like 
myriads  of  stars. 

The  pilot,  whose  escape  from  the  Foxhound  had 
been  more  miraculous  than  Powell's,  looked  ahead,  but 
said  nothing. 

He  was  evidently  thinking  of  the  terrible  torpedo 
which  would  be  placed  in  the  hold  of  the  new  blockade 
runner. 

Ralph  Powell  had  clambered  over  his  ship's  side 
after  lighting  the  fuse  which  was  to  destroy  her. 

He  swam  rapidlj'^  away,  and  was  some  distance  from 
the  bark  when  the  awful  explosion  took  place,  and 
consequently  out  of  harm's  way. 

Spars,  timbers,  and  pieces  of  iron  filled  the  air  every- 
where for  a  moment,  and  then  fell  like  a  shovver  into 
the  sea. 

He  had  survived  the  destruction  of  his  ship  ! 

By  and  by  he  reached  shore,  where  he  was  subse- 
quently joined  by  Foulweather  Tom. 

Mutual  congratulations  followed  over  their  escape, 
and  fortune  sent  a  boat  to  take  them  from  the  scene. 

The  blockade  runner  was  saved  to  the  Confederac}'^, 
and  he  would  yet  bring  it  succor  time  and  again  from 
across  the  seas. 

The  little  boat  and  its  occupants  were  rapidly  near- 
ing  Nassau. 

The  master  of  the  Foxhound  was  eager  to  set  foot 
an  shore  again. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  213 

His  desire  increased  as  the  boat  shot  over  the  water 
almost  noiselessly.     He  could  hardly  restrain  himself. 

The  boat  was  passing  under  the  bows  of  a  vessel 
that  lay  at  anchor  in  the  bay  when  loud  voices  were 
heard,  and  a  heavy  body  fell  into  the  water. 

"That  was  a  man,  cap'n,"  said  Tom.  "Shiver  ray 
toplights !  if  he  fell  into  the  sea  of  his  own  accord. 
Didn't  you  hear  a  tusslin'  on  deck  jes'  before  he  hit 
the  water?" 

'*  Let  us  help  hira,"  said  Powell,  for  the  person  who 
had  fallen  into  the  bay  was  struggling  with  the  waves 
a  short  distance  away. 

The  boat  was  instantly  put  about,  and  rapidly  ap- 
proached the  unfortunate  man. 

"There  he  is,  cap'n !  He's  raakin'  for  the  bark!" 
exclaimed  Jack,  whose  keen  e3^es  had  caught  sight  of 
a  human  being  swimming  toward  a  vessel. 

"  I  see  him  !  Pull  away,  Tom !  He  must  be  picked 
up!" 

The  person  in  the  water  did  not  seem  very  anxious 
to  be  rescued,  for,  instead  of  waiting  for  the  boat,  he 
was  putting  forth  every  effort  to  gain  the  vessel  over 
whose  sides  he  had  fallen. 

He  was  baffled,  however,  for  the  strong  arms  of 
Powell  and  his  sailor  sent  the  boat  between  him  and 
the  vessel,  and  he  suddenly  found  himself  headed  off. 

"  We're  here  to  save  you !"  said  the  blockade  run- 
ner, leaning  forward  and  clutching  the  man's  shoulder. 
"  AVe  don't  belong  to  j'^our  ship — that's  a  fact — but — 
Great  heavens !  it  is  Flash  Gilraor !" 

At  that  selfsame  moment  a  cry  of  recognition  rang 
from  the  throat  of  the  man  in  the  water. 

"  Captain  Powell  I" 


214  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"  It^s  nobody  else,"  was  the  response,  and  the 
speaker's  clutch  tightened  on  Gilmor's  shoulder.  "  I'm 
willing  to  lose  the  Foxhound  for  the  chance  of  finding 
you  again.  Fortune  favored  you  the  night  you  escaped 
after  killing  Mowbray;  but  Nemesis  has  thrown  you 
into  my  hands.  Here,  Jack,  help  me  pull  this  assas- 
sin in !" 

Flash  Gilmor  would  have  resisted  if  strength  would 
have  saved  him  ;  but  he  was  completely  in  the  power 
of  the  men  in  the  boat. 

He  was  pulled  in  by  brute  force,  for  he  did  not  as- 
sist himself  in  any  way,  and  as  he  was  placed  on  the 
bottom  of  the  boat,  Powell  and  the  pilot  took  up  the 
oars  again,  and  sent  the  craft  lying  from  the  spot. 

Flash  Gilmor  thus  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  man 
whom  he  most  dreaded — the  man  on  board  whose  ship 
he  had  committed  a  most  brutal  murder. 

He  knew  that  Mowbray  and  Powell  were  old  friends 
at  the  time  of  the  former's  death,  and,  therefore,  he 
could  expect  no  mercy  at  the  captain's  hands. 

For  several  minutes  he  lay  silent  and  sullen  in  the 
boat,  glaring  at  his  captors,  but  especially  at  Powell, 
with  the  smothered  rage  of  a  thwarted  tiger. 

"  I  would  like  to  know  by  what  authority  you  take 
me  to  Nassau  ?"  he  said  sullenly. 

The  blockade  runner  smiled. 

"  The  authority  that  vengeance  bestows,  of  course," 
the  captain  answered.  "  Froth  at  the  mouth,  and 
curse  Powell  and  fate  as  you  pleUse,  Flash  Gilmor.  I 
Avas  Mowbray's  friend.  I  have  a  right  to  avenge  his 
death.  Nobody  saw  you  commit  the  crime.  You 
would  set  up  the  plea  of  self-defense ;  but  a  court  will 
never  hear  you." 


THE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNER.  215 

"  What  do  you  threaten  ?"  asked  Gilmor. 

"Death — something  vilhiins  of  your  stripe  never 
contemplate  without  shuddering." 

Gilmor  said  nothing,  but  watched  Powell  with  the 
glaring  eyes  of  a  ruffian. 

"It  was  all  for  the  girl — JSTorah,"  continued  Pow.  :"'. 
"The  guardian  first— the  ward  next.  Having  kii!;-' 
one,  you  would  more  than  kill  the  other.  But  your 
course  is  run.  This  night  is  your  last  on  earth.  I  will 
kill  you,  unless  the  devil  himself  comes  to  your  relief 
and  takes  you  from  my  grasp." 

Flash  Gilmor  nursed  his  rage  in  silence  ;  and  the 
boat  soon  lay  alongside  the  dock. 

"Where  are  you  about  to  take  me?"  demanded  Gil- 
mor, when  they  had  disembarked  at  a  secluded  wharf. 

The  neighborhood  was  dark  and  deserted,  and  Flash 
saw  that  his  captor  would  do  pretty  much  as  he  pleased 
without  great  fear  of  interruption. 

"  You  will  see  presently,"  returned  Powell,  in  stern 
tones. 

"  Do  you  mean  to  murder  me  ?"  Gilmor  said,  in  de- 
pressed accents. 

"  I  mean  to  kill  you,"  was  the  reply. 

"  That's  the  same  thing." 

"  No  ;  I  shall  give  you  a  chance  for  your  life.  I 
will  strike  no  man  down  in  cold  blood." 

"A  duel?"  said  Flash,  eagerly  catching  at  the  faint 
hope  conveyed  b}'^  Powell's  words,  as  a  drowning  man 
grasps  at  a  straw. 

"  You  have  said  it ;  yes." 

"  You  are  generous.  I  accept  the  issue  with  pleas- 
ure," said  Gilmor,  who  was  an  expert  swordsman  and 
a  crack  shot. 


216  THE  BLOCKADE  B  UNNEB. 

^ou  fancy  you  may  escape,  eh  ?" 
'hile   there's   life   there's   hope,"  replied   Flash, 
"  and  I  wish  to  live  as  well  as  any  other  man." 

"  I  dare  say  ;  but  you  flatter  yourself  in  this  case. 
You  cannot  escape  me." 

"At  least  I  shall  be  able  to  defend  my  life.  I  ask 
no  more  than  that  of  any  man,"  said  Gilmor  defiantly. 

During  this  brief  conversation  they  had  been  rapidly 
making  their  way  toward  one  end  of  the  city,  not  very 
far  removed  from  the  docks. 

"  Here,  Tom,  we  turn  down  this  street,"  said  Powell 
to  his  pilot. 

The  party  left  the  deserted  thoroughfare  through 
which  they  had  passed  from  the  wharf  and  entered  a 
narrow  street  lined  with  marine  junk  shops,  ship 
chandlery  stores,  with  here  and  there  a  low  dram-shop. 

The  place  seemed  filled  with  a  saline  odor  quite  in 
keeping  with  its  mercantile  character. 

Many  of  the  stores  were  still  open  and  the  second- 
hand wares  exposed  for  sale. 

Ever3'thing,  from  a  needle  for  sewing  canvas  to  an 
old  iron  cannon,  seemed  to  be  offered  at  a  price  phe- 
nomenal for  its  cheapness. 

Of  clothing  there  was  an  abundance,  and  Jack  could 
fill  his  slop  bag  without  any  great  loss  of  time  in  the 
choosing. 

Rough  blue  jackets,  with  mother-of-pearl  buttons, 
and  oilskin  hats  seemed  to  predominate. 

The  windows  were  filled  with  a  heterogeneous  mass 
of  rubbish  which  had  evidently  once  seen  efficient  use, 
and  had  been  parted  with  by  the  original  owners  when 
they  got  hard  pressed. 

There  were  pawnshops  also,  dark  and  dingy  looking 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  217 

■places,  huddled  against  their  neighbors  in  a  deprecating 
way,  as  though  apologizing  for  the  necessity  of  their 
presence. 

The- street  was  filled  with  sailors  in  all  stages  of  in- 
ebriety, and  the  dramshops  aforesaid  were  crowded  by 
blockade  runners  who  had  not  yet  parted  with  their 
last  coin. 

Lights  flashed  through  these  grimy,  smoky  dens, 
and  strains  of  music,  such  as  it  was,  floated  into  the 
purer  atmosphere  outside. 

These  scenes  were  familiar  to  the  three  men  who 
moved  and  elbowed  their  way  through  the  street. 

Fifty  pairs  of ^  eyes  recognized  Captain  Powell  and 
his  pilot,  and  their  salutations  and  remarks  proved 
that  these  two  were  heroes  to  the  nomadic  denizens  of 
sailor  town. 

Had  the  blockade  runner  been  in  the  mood  and 
given  the  word  a  dozen  pair  of  horny  hands  would 
have  made  an  end  of  Flash  Gilmor  then  and  there, 
without  the  least  ceremony  or  an  inquiry  as  to  the 
justification  of  such  a  lawless  act. 

And  Gilmor  knew  it,  too,  though  he  had  no  fear  of 
such  a  result. 

He  knew  that  Powell  was  incapable  of  treachery. 

He  had  passed  his  word  that  the  issue  was  to  take 
the  form  of  a  duel,  and  his  word  was  his  bond,  as 
everybody  acquainted  with  the  blockade  runner  knew. 

From  this  marine  thoroughfare  they  passed  to  an- 
other street  of  much  quieter  aspect. 

Here  were  shipping  oflices  and  small  warehouses,  all 
closed  for  the^day. 

After  walking  for  some  distance  down  the  street  tho 
trio  drew  up  before  a  house  well  fronted  with  treeSo 


gib  THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNER. 

It  was  a  large,  two-story  building,  and  the  only- 
light  visible  inside  came  from  one  of  the  lower  windows. 

The  men  were  admitted  in  response  to  a  knock  from 
Powell. 

"  We  go  upstairs,  Flash,"  said  the  blockade  runner, 
leading  the  way  to  a  flight  of  steps  almost  directly 
ahead. 

Gilmor  did  not  appear  to  be  a  prisoner  any  longer. 

He  seemed  to  know  what  was  upstairs,  for  he  went 
up  the  steps  with  much  eagerness  Arisible  in  his  eyes. 

The  trio  had  entered  a  building  in  which  scores  of 
men  then  serving  in  the  Confederate  navy  had  taken 
their  first  lessons  in  swordsmanship. 

The  room  that  awaited  them  on  the  second  floor  ex- 
tended the  entire  length  of  the  building. 

It  was  dimly  lighted,  but  Powell  soon  increased  the 
light,  revealing  a  number  of  sword-racks,  well  supplied 
with  blades  of  all  kinds.  Some  revolvers  were  also 
visible. 

'"  You  know  the  place,  I  see — you  have  been  here 
before,"  said  the  blockade  runner,  noticing  the  rapid 
glance  of  recognition  which  Flash  Gilmor  sent  round 
the  room. 

"  The  old  place  has  a  familiar  look,"  was  the  reply  ; 
"  but  I  believe  we  came  here  for  a  purpose." 

"  Yes — to  fight !     Select  your  weapon." 

Did  a  gleam  of  satisfaction  light  up  Powell's  eyes 
when  he  saw  Gilmor  step  toward  a  case  containing 
some  revolvers  ? 

If  so,  it  soon  disappeared,  for,  instead  of  removing  a 
revolver  from  the  case,  Gilmor  took  a  splendid  sword 
from  the  rack. 

"I  am  ready,"  he  said,  whirling  upon  Powell  with 
the  air  of  a  duellist  sure  of  his  man. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  319 

Captain  Powers  seized  a  weapon  similar  to  that 
secured  by  his  antagonist,  and  then  the  two  men  stood 
face  to  face. 

"  Tom,  stand  by  the  door.  This  is  to  be  a  fight  to 
the  death.  Should  I  be  defeated  it  is  my  command 
that  this  man  may  depart  unmolested.  You  under- 
stand ?" 

"  Ay,  ay,  captain  ;  it  shall  be  as  you  say,"  said  the 
pilot,  taking  up  his  station. 

"  You  heard  what  I  said.  Flash  G-ilmor.  You  are  at 
liberty  to  go  if  you  best  me  in  this  affair.  But  I 
don't  think  you  will  have  the  chance  to  avail  yourself 
of  my  offer,  for  as  I  have  already  told  you,  I  have 
made  up  my  mind  to  kill  you,  and4  mean  every  word 
of  it,  be  you  the  devil  himself  at  the  sword. 

Gilmor  simply  smiled. 

He  felt  easy  in  mind  over  the  result,  but  he  was  yet 
to  learn  something  new  at  the  science  he  fancied  him- 
self the  master  of. 

Flash  Gilmor  was  no  coward,  and  in  the  present 
instance  did  not  think  he  would  have  to  sell  his  life 
dearly. 

He  had  made  up  his  mind  to  run  Powell  through  the 
body. 


2^0  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE    DUEL    TO    THE     DEATH. 

For  a  breathless  moment  the  duellists  stood  face  to 
face. 

The  pilot  was  the  only  spectator. 

"  Are  you  ready  ?"  asked  the  blockade  runner. 

"  I  am  ready  !" 

"  Then  at  it  we  go.     Look  out !" 

The  next  instant  blade  encountered  blade. 

From  the  first  the  combat  wasjiot. 

Flash  Gilmor  fought  with  the  science  of  an   experi- 
enced swordsman,  but   Powell's   thrusts,    blows   and 
strokes  came  so  thick  and  fast,  and  were  so  skillfully 
managed,  that  Gilraor  was  forced  to  recoil. 

The  blockade  runner  seemed  to  be  transformed  into 
a  veritable  devil  incarnate  with  the  weapon.  ; 

His  blade  writhed  upon  that  of  his  adversary  like 
a  squirming  snake. 

No  one  but  such  an  expert  as  Gilmor  could  have 
withstood  !nm  five  minutes. 

He  would  have  beaten  down  their  guard  and  pierced 
them  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye. 

That  Gilmor  was  surprised  and  discomfited  by  the 
discovery  that  his  opponent  was  a  master  at  the  art 
goes  without  saying. 

It  was  a  perfect  revelation  to  him,  and  the  contest 
assumed  a  graver  aspect  than  he  could  have  suspected. 

Powell  v/as  strong,  of  great  endurance,  with  nerves 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  221 

and  muscles  of  steel,  and  far  more  flexible  than  any 
one  would  have  supposed  in  a  man  of  his  build ;  and 
furthermore  he  was  desperately  in  earnest. 

Mowbray's  murderer  ground  his  teeth  and  parried 
as  best  he  could  the  strokes  of  his  antagonist. 

"I  never  saw  the  captain  fight  that  way  before," 
muttered  Tom      "  He  must  be  losing  his  head." 

No ;  Captain  Powell  was  bound  to  kill  his  antago- 
nist— that  was  all, 

Gilmor  had  all  he  could  do  to  maintain  a  successful 
defense  without  attempting  to  take  the  initiative 
himself. 

He  was  soon  wounded  on  his  sword  arm,  again  on 
his  wrist. 

Then  the  captain's  sword  point  reached  his  right 
cheek,  slightly  drawing  blood.    , 

Gilmor  began  to  lose  his  coolness  by  degrees;  the 
contest  was  too  one-sided  to  suit  his  views. 

He  felt  that  he  had  better  make  a  desperate  effort, 
than  to  be  reduced  by  slow  degrees,  even  if  he  paid 
for  it  with  his  life. 

In  a  word  he  thought  it  was  better  to  be  struck,  so 
to  speak,  by  the  tiger's  paw  than  to  be  worried  to 
death  piecemeal  by  jackals. 

And  so  steadying  himself  he  began  new  tactics, 
and  for  awhile  the  contest  took  on  an  aspect  more 
favorable  to  himself. 

Powell  seemed  to  be  less  skillful  at  defense  than 
attack. 

Gilmor  perceived  his  advantage  and  smiled  that 
old  dangerous  smile  which  had  preceded  the  murder 
of  Gordon  Mowbray. 

Powell  slowly  retreated,  step  by  step,  and  the  flash 


222  THE  BLOCKADE  BIJNNEB. 

of  the  weapons  took  on  the  gleam  of  fire  under  the 
flickering  gaslights. 

Foul  weather  Tom  began  to  have  misgivings  as  to 
the  issue,  and  his  mahogany-hued  hands  worked 
nervously  as  he  watched  the  deadly  encounter. 

A  quick  cut  of  Gilraor's  wounded  Powell  in  his 
sword  hand. 

Then  like  a  tiger  who  has  tasted  blood  he  quickly 
resumed  his  savage  attack,  and  Flash  found  the  tables 
turned  on  himself  again. 

"  What!  can't  I  avenge  Mowbray  ?" 

The  answer  was  a  defiant  look. 

Powell's  attack  now  became  actually  irresistible. 

Flash  was  forced  almost  to  the  wall ;  he  could  not 
withstand  such  a  terrible  assault. 

"  You  see  I  have  you,  assassin  !"  cried  the  blockade 
runner.  "  Tom  and  I  will  be  the  only  persons  to  leave 
this  room  alive." 

At  that  instant  Gilraor's  sword  was  beaten  from  his 
hand. 

He  was  at  Powell's  mercy. 

Did  the  victor  spare  ? 

No! 

He  leaped  at  his  enemy,  raising  the  heavy  sword 
like  a  saber,  and  with  two  tremendous  blows,  that 
would  have  cloven  a  casque,  cut  him  down ! 

Powell  would  have  followed  the  strokes  with  others 
as  Gilraor  reeled  away,  cut  to  the  death,  if  the  pilot 
had  not  thrown  himself  between  the  two  men  regard- 
less of  the  captain's  intentions. 

Not  a  single  cry  had  been  driven  from  Gilmor's 
throat  bv  the  brutal  blow. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  223 

A  gasp  parted  his  lips  as  he  struck  the  floor — 
Nothing  more. 

He  was  dead — and  Gordon  Mowbray  was  avenged! 

Powell  gazed  for  a  moment  at  his  victim.  It  was  a 
cold,  unpityiug  look. 

''  He's  done  for,  Tom,"  he  said,  turning  to  the  sailor. 
"Flash  didn't  think  I  could  use  a  sword — ha !  ha !" 
And  with  his  triumphant  cry  echoing  in  the  room  the 
captain  and  his  pilot  went  down  the  stair. 


224  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 


CHAPTER  XXYIIL 

IN  WHICH  CAPTAIN  POWERS  COMES  TO  GRIEF. 

The  blockade  runner  hastened  toward  his  own 
house. 

He  was  now  alone,  for  he  dismissed  the  pilot  with  a 
few  gold  pieces  on  the  street,  and  Foulweather  Tom 
had  already  disappeared. 

"  The  two  girls  don't  expect  me  to-night,"  he  said 
to  himself,  "  I  wonder  how  the}' get  along  together. 
Dora  will  be  shocked  to  hear  that  the  Foxhound  is  at 
the  bottom  of  the  sea ;  but  her  eyes  will  grew  bright 
again  when  I  tell  her  that  I  will  soon  command  on  the 
quarter-deck  of  another  ship  as  swift  and  as  stanch." 

He  was  near  his  residence  when  these  words  drop- 
ped from  his  lips. 

"Captain  Powell!  by  my  soul!" 

The  blockade  runner  paused  and  turned. 

A  few  feet  away  a  man  stood  staring  at  him  as 
though  he  were  a  specter. 

"  Powers !  ah  !  we  meet  again  !"  said  the  blockade 
runner,  advancing  upon  the  person  who  had  just 
spoken  his  name  in  accents  of  astonishment. 

"  Back  already,  captain  V  ejaculated  Powers,  for 
the  man  was  the  captain  of  the  new  privateer,  De- 
stroyer. "  Have  the  Yankee  cruisers  forced  you  back 
into  port?" 

Powell's  brows  darkened. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  225 

"  Worse  than  that,''  he  grated.  "  The  Foxhound  is 
mine  no  more." 

"  Surrendered,  eh  ?" 

"  No !  the  torpedo  did  the  work.  That  Yankee 
gunner  riddled  me  first.  He  shoots  like  a  wizard, 
Powers." 

Dick  Powers  laughed  more  than  half  triumphantly 
as  he  touched  the  blockade  runner's  arm. 

"  You  have  reached  Nassau  in  the  nick  of  time,"  he 
said.     "  Bentham  is  here. 

"  In  Nassau  ?" 

"In  Nassau  !" 

"  Impossible  !" 

"  It  is  true.  He  has  outwitted  me  thus  far.  I  even 
put  Mardo  on  his  track,  but  the  Malay  never  came 
back  to  report.     He  is  here  for  a  purpose." 

"Of  course,"  said  Powell  signiiicantly.  "I  know 
him  for  a  man  of  nerve,  but  I  did  not  think  he'd  venture 
into  Nassau.     So  he  has  beaten  you  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  He  shall  not  escape  me.     When  do  you  sail  ?" 

"  I  can  put  off  at  any  time." 

"  But  you  had  a  time  set  for  departure  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  day  after  to-morrow." 

"  You  can  leave  then,  for  by  that  time  I  will  have 
found  Bentham." 

"  If  we  put  our  heads  together,  he  can't  elude  us 
long." 

Powell  fixed  his  eyes  on  Powers  as  the  latter 
spoke. 

The  two  men  had  never  been  the  best  of  friends. 

The  blQckade  runner  probably  recalled  their  last 
words  on  board  the  Foxhound,  spoken  shortly  after 
Powers'  interview  with  Norak. 


226  THE  BLOCKADE  BUNNEB. 

He  was  not  going  to  ally  himself  with  the  priv^ateers- 
raan  in  a  hunt  after  the  young  gunner. 

If  he  had  a  score  to  settle  with  Bentham  he  would 
if  possible  unearth  the  man  himself,  and  in  his  own 
way. 

Powers  must  conduct  his  own  operations  as  he  had 
begun,  entirely  on  his  own  responsibility. 

Powers  seemed  to  understand  that  the  blockade  run- 
ner did  not  want  his  company,  and  a  defiant  light  at 
once  gleamed  in  his  eyes. 

"  We  hunt  him  separately,  then,  and  may  the  best 
man  win,"  he  said  to  Powell.  "How  is  Norah  getting 
along  ?  You  know  I  take  a  great  interest  in  the  young 
lady." 

"  I  cannot  answer  you.  I  have  not  been  home," 
was  the  reply.  "  Yes,  I  know  3'ou  pretend  to  think  a 
great  deal  of  her.  I  believe  you  lately  swore  in  her 
presence  that  you  would  make  her  your  \nMq  one  of 
these  days," 

"  I  did.     Ah  !  you  overheard  me.     I  had  forgotten." 

"  And  you  expect  to  keep  your  word  ?" 

«  I  do." 

"  Well,  you'll  fail." 

For  a  moment  Powers  did  not  reply. 

He  seemed  to  be  curbing  the  rage  that  was  fast  get- 
ting the  better  of  him. 

"  You  will  try  and  prevent  it  then  ?"  he  said. 

"  I  will." 

"  We  shall  see.  We  serve  the  same  flag ;  but  I 
don't  think  we  will  ever  be  friends,  Powell." 

"  Never  !" 

"  So  be  it." 

"Captain  Powers,  you  once  told   Norah  that  you 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  227 

would  avenge  Mowbray's  death.  You  will  never  do 
that !" 

"  Why  not «" 

"  It  has  been  avenged." 

The  captiiin  of  the  Destroyer  recoiled. 

"  You  have  found  Flash  Gilraor  ?"  he  said,  in  strange 
tones,  as  he  stared  into  Powell's  face. 

"Fate  brought  us  together.'' 

"And  you  have  killed  him  ?"     , 

"Yes." 

"  Torn  and  I  escorted  him  to  the  sword-room  in  the 
naval  building  on  Queen  Street.  I  gave  him  an  even 
chance  for  his  life." 

"You  did?" 

"  I  did,  sir." 

"  This  is  astonishing.  Why,  Flash  Gilnior  was  an 
expert  with  both  sword  and  pistol." 

"That  may  be.  Indeed,  I  admit  he  showed  himself 
a  formidable  opponent.  But  I  have  proved  myself  his 
superior  with  the  weapon  he  chose  " 

"  You  allowed  him  the  choice  also  ?" 

"Assuredly.  I  stood  in  the  light  of  the  challenging 
party,  for  I  forced  the  issue,  and  therefore  he  had  the 
right  to  select  the  weapons." 

"  You  were  extremely  obliging,"  said  Powers,  who 
seemed  amazed  at  what  he  heard.  "  Had  I  been  in 
your  place,  with  such  a  man  at  my  mercy,  I  should 
have  allowed  him  scant  courtesy.  He  killed  Gordon 
Mowbray  in  cold  blood.  The  old  man  had  not  the 
ghost  of  a  show  that  fatal  morning,  if  what  you  told 
me  is  true.  By  that  act  Flash  Gilmor  forfeited  every 
right  to  consideration.  You  should  have  killed  him  as 
you  would  a  rat — without  the  least  mercy." 


228  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"  It  is  uot  in  my  nature  to  do  that  with  any  man, 
be  the  provocation  what  it  may." 

"I  presume  you  will  kill  me,  too,  if  I  persist  in 
loving;  Norah  ?"  said  Powers  with  a  sneer. 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  your  love  for  the  girl. 
But  if  3'^ou  persecute  her  I  will  defend  and  protect  her 
against  you." 

"  Indeed,"  said  Powers  coolly. 

"  Ay,  indeed.  If  you  mean  the  girl  well  you  will 
conduct  your  suit  on  gentle  lines.  I  fancy,  however, 
that  you  will  not  succeed." 

"  And  why  not,  pray  ?" 

"  Because  it  is  apparent  she  does  not  like  you." 

"  I  will  overcome  that  objection." 

"  There  is  another  obstacle  that  you  will  not  so 
easily  dispose  of." 

"Bentham?" 

"  Ay ;  unless  I  am  blind  in  such  matters,  Norah  loves 
the  Yankee  gunner." 

"  I  shall  fix  him,  never  fear,  unless  you  perform  that 
pleasing  duty  for  me." 

"  Never  mind  what  I  propose  to  do  about  Bentham. 
It  is  m}'^  own  affair.  All  I  have  to  say  is  to  repeat 
ray  warning  in  respect  to  Norah.  She  is  my  guest,  or 
rather  my  niece's.  Leave  her  alone,  Captain  Powers, 
or  take  the  consequences." 

"  I  intend  to.  You  have  no  right  to  act  as  that  girl's 
guardian.  If  you  are  championing  her  cause  for  a 
certain  purpose,  I  am  ready  to  enter  the  lists  and  tilt 
for  her  heart.  Let  us  begin  here.  There  can  never 
be  peace  between  us.     Draw  !" 

Powers  stepped  back  a  pace  and  whipped  out  the 
sword  he  carried  at  his  side. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  229 

He  did  not  see  that  the  blockade  runner  was  un- 
armed ;  rage  blinded  him, 

Powell's  lips  met  sternly  as  he  executed  a  rapid 
stride  forward. 

"I  am  unarmed,  sir,  except  with  nature's  weapons," 
he  said,  clutching  Powers'  right  arm.  "  If  I  had  a 
dozen  swords,  I  would  not  fight  you  here!" 

''  By  Jove  !  you  shall !" 

"  That  is  your  emptiest  boast !"  was  the  cool  rejoin- 
der. "  I  say  I  will  not,  so  that  ends  the  matter  lor 
the  present !" 

"It  does  not,  I  say.  You  shall  fight  me.  I  will 
lay  my  sword  across  your  face." 

He  broke  awaj'^  from  Powell's  grasp  as  he  uttered 
the  last  words,  and  raised  the  s\Yord  to  accomplish  his 
resolve. 

The  blockade  runner  leaped  at  him,  knocked  the 
weapon  aside  and  dealt  him  a  stunning  blow  in  the 
face. 

The  captain  of  the  Destroyer  staggered  back,  lost 
his  footing,  and  fell  against  the  door  of  one  of  the 
houses. 

It  opened  like  magic  and  engulfed  him,  much  to 
Powell's  surprise. 

"Well,  ril  be  jiggered!"  he  exclaimed.  "That's 
Throxton's  house,  and  I  believe  he's  a  stanch  Unionist, 
so  I  don't  envy  Powers'  reception." 

His  own  house  was  in  the  same  street  and  only  a 
few  paces  distant. 

He  knocked  at  the  door  and  Dora  answered  his 
summons. 

She  greeted  him  gladly,  but  with  evident  surprise. 

"  You  have  been  driven  back,"  she  said. 


230  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

"  Worse,"  he  answered. 

"  Worse  ?-' 

"  Yes.     The  Foxhound  is  gone." 

"  Captured  ?" 

"  No — she  lies  in  sixteen  fathoms  of  water  off  the 
island  of  Eleuthera,  in  the  Providence  Channel." 

"Sunk  by  Yankee  shot?" 

"  No  ;  disabled,  but  not  sunk  by  Yankee  shot.  I 
destroyed  her  myself." 

"  Oh  !"  said  Dora,  "  I'm  so  sorry." 

"  Never  mind.  I  shall  have  another  vessel  soon,  for 
I  have  a  mint  of  money  to  draw  upon.  And  if  I 
didn't,  I  have  but  to  go  to  the  St.  George  Hotel,  or  a 
dozen  other  places,  and  ask  for  a  steamer,  and  I 
should  be  overwhelmed  with  offers." 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  I'm  sure  of  it." 

"And  now  where's  Norah,  your  fair  guest?" 
'"Gone." 

"  Gone  ?     What  do  you  mean  ?" 

"She  went  away  an  liour  agowith  a  Mr.  Bentham 
— the  man  she  expects  to  marry." 

"  Ah,  indeed  !  I  heard  he  was  in  Nassau.  He  might 
have  trusted  her  here.     She  was  perfectly  safe." 

"  He  was  afraid  of  Flash  Gilmor's  persecutions,  and 
Captain  Powers  also  was  hot  upon  his  track  and  hers." 

"  Gilmor  will  not  trouble  Norah,  or  in  fact  any  one, 
any  more." 

"  I  am  glad  of  that,  for  I  love  Norah  dearly." 

"  And  I  have  warned  Captain  Powers.  But  I  must 
see  Bentham.  Do  3'ou  know  where  he  went  with 
the  girl  ?" 

"  I  think  they  went  to  Mr.  Throxton's." 

"  I  am  almost  sure  of  it.     I  will  follow  them  shortly^ 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  231 

my  dear.  In  the  meantime  I  wish  3'ou  would  lay  the 
table  for  me.  I  am  quite  famished.  I  have  tasted 
nothing  for  twenty-four  hours." 

"  You  dear  old  uncle,  why  didn't  you  speak  at  first? 
You  know  I  am  so  thoughtless." 

"  I  don't  know  an}'^  such  thing,  Dora,"  said  Powell 
tenderly,  as  his  niece  ran  aw^ay  into  the  next  room. 

A  repast  was  soon  spread  before  him,  and  while  he 
disposed  of  the  good  things  he  thought  out  his  plans 
in  respect  to  young  Bentham,  whom  he  expected  to 
meet  now  without  much  difficulty. 

What  scheme  had  he  in  view? 

At  any  rate  his  thoughts  could  not  have  been  badly 
tinged  with  evil,  for  his  fine  bronzed  countenance 
never  looked  more  benign  or  uurufl3.ed  than  on  the 
present  occasion. 


232  TEE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNEB. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

AT    THE    POINT    OF    THE    REVOLVER. 

When  Captain  Dick  Powers,  of  tlie  new  and  untried 
privateer  Destroyer,  recovered  from  Powell's  stunning 
blows  he  found  himself  in  a  room  which  he  was  aware 
he  had  never  entered  before. 

His  first  impulse  was  to  rush  out  and  foUovv-  the 
blockade  runner,  whom  he  knew  could  not  be  far 
away. 

He  would  pay  Powell  back  for  those  blows ;  he 
would  have  his  life  for  them  ;  he  would  yet  carry  out 
his  oath  by  making  Norah  his  wife! 

Scrambling  to  his  feet,  for  he  had  fallen  headlong 
into  the  house,  he  was  about  to  make  a  dash  for  the 
street,  when  a  man  stepped  suddenly  between  him  and 
the  door,  and  faced  him  with  determined  if  not 
triumphant  countenance. 

"  Throxton!"  exclaimed  Powers,  starting  back  ari  he 
stared  at  the  man,  whom  he  instantly  recognized. 
"  I  was  not  aware  that  I  had  fallen  into  your  house." 

The  man  at  the  door  seemed  to  smile  maliciously.  ' 

"  You  came  in  witliout  knocking,"  he  ansu'ered. 
"  I  was  not  expecting  a  visitor — especially  an  officer 
in  the  employ  of  the  Confederac^^" 

"  Which  means  that  I  am  not  welcome." 

"Ah  !  you  are  mistaken  !"  was  the  quick  rejoinder. 
"  Of  all  the   men  I  know,  there  is  not  one  whom  I 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  2::3 

woukl  rather  see  here  tlian  yourself.  When  do  you 
sail,  Captain  Powers?" 

Powers'  eyes  flashed  indignantly. 

'*  I  generall}'^  keep  my  own  secrets,  Throxton,"  lie 
said. 

"  Very  well.     We  will  not  press  the  subject." 

For  another  moment  the  privateer  eyed  the  Unii^n- 
ist,  andthen  strode  toward  the  door  again. 

Throxton  did  not  stir. 

"Let  me  out!"  exclaimed  Powers,  seeing  that  tlirre 
was  a  disposition  on  Throxton's  part  to  detain  hi, a. 
"You  have  no  right  to  keep  me  here  against  my  will. 
You  have  already  incurred  the  ill-will  of  the  authori- 
ties by  harboring  and  hiding  Bentham,  the  Yank<^e 
gunner,  to-night.  I  have  a  right  to  demand  i??y 
liberty." 

"  And  as  this  is  my  own  house  I  claim  the  right  lo 
refuse  it." 

"What,  sir?  This  language  to  an  officer  who  sails 
under  the  flag  of  the  Confederate  government  ?"  ex- 
claimed Powers.  "By  Jove!  I  will  put  an  end  to 
your  double  game.  You  have  been  permitted  t<> 
escape  too  long.  This  act  seals  your  doom — puts  an 
end  to  your  practices,  and  cripples  the  Yankee  cause." 

A  light,  irritating  laugh  rippled  over  Throxton's 
lips. 

"  Just  as  you  please,  captain,"  he  said,  with  cutting 
sarcasm  ;  "  but  first  you  must  get  away  from  here." 

"  You  will  not  let  me  out,  then  ?" 

"  I  will  not." 

Powell  sprang  back  with  an  oath,  and  his  hand 
darted  swiftly  toward  his  belt. 

"  Ho  !    none  of  that,"  said  Throxton  quietly,  but 


234  TEE  BLOCKADE  BUJSJSJSR. 

with  firmness,  anticipating  his  design.  "  One  more 
move  of  that  kind  on  your  part,  captain,  might  cause 
the  Confederacy  to  lose  a  very  valuable  officer.  My 
death  would  but  hasten  yours.  I  have  other  guests  to- 
night. Come  into  the  parlor  and  let  me  introduce 
them." 

"I  decline  the  honor,  sir,"  said  Powers  haughtily. 

"Excuse  me  if  I  insist." 

Powers  debated  an  instant  whether  to  resort  to 
violence  or  not,  and  finally  decided  not  to  do  so. 

He  preceded  the  master  of  the  house  into  the  room 
in  question. 

"  This  way  a  moment,  Robert,  with  your  friend," 
said  Throxton,  raising  his  voice,  and  addressing  some 
one  in  another  room,  the  door  leading  to  which  stood 
slightly  ajar. 

Powers  removed  his  eyes  from  Throxton  and  fixed 
them  on  the  door,  which  opened,  and  a  handsome  man 
stepped  forward. 

"  Bentham  !"  fell  from  Powers'  tongue,"!  might 
have  known  that  you  were  about  to  appear — and 
Norah,  too  !" 

The  young  gunner  and  beautiful  Norah  Narcross 
stood  before  the  Confederate  captain. 

It  was  an  interesting  tableau. 

"  You  got  the  Worst  of  your  encounter  with  Powell, 
captain,  I  see,"  said  the  gunner,  the  first  to  disturb  the 
silence. 

The  privateersman's  answer  was  a  growl  of  anger. 

"  I  do  not  intend  to  twit  you  on  your  defeat,"  con- 
tinued Bentham  quickly.  "  You  were  looking  for  me 
awhile  ago,  and  since  we  have  met,  let  us  transact 
what  unfinished  business  remains." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  235 

The  young  gunner  was  evidently  thinking  of  the  im- 
promptu duel  on  the  banks  of  Cape  Fear,  the  night  of 
his  escape  from  Wilmington,  and  while  he  spoke  Cap- 
tain Powers'  look  told  that  his  thoughts  had  returned 
to  the  same  scene. 

"  I  am  willing  to  accommodate  3'ou  !"  he  exclaimed. 
"  Your  sword  gave  me  a  terrible  wound,  and  your  ac- 
cursed balls  sent  the  Swiftwing  to  the  bowels  of  the 
deep.  Yes,  I  want  revenge.  I  acknowledge  it  here. 
Mr.  Throxton,  have  you  swords  for  us  ?" 

The  Union  sympathizer  was  about  to  reply  when 
Norah  threw  herself  between  the  two  men,  who  faced 
each  other  with  flashing  eyes. 

"  No  ;  blood  shall  not  flow  here,"  she  said,  looking 
at  Powers,  who  recoiled  a  step.  "  You  have  not  for- 
gotten your  vow,  captain.  It  is  still  fresh  in  my 
memory.  You  shall  never  fulfill  it ;  for  Norah  Nar- 
cross  will  never  become  the  wife  of  a  man  who  serves 
the  new  flag." 

"  I  believe  you  said  that  once  before.  Beware,  girl ! 
you  may  recall  those  words." 

"  At  your  hands  ?  never  !" 

"  We'll  see !  But  this  is  not  business,"  and  the 
speaker  looked  at  the  Union  gunner  again.  "The 
world  is  too  small  for  both  of  us,  Bentham.  I  want 
revenge  for  ray .  wound  and  the  loss  of  my  ship. 
Coward,  you  dare  not  face  me  !  Having  disgraced  the 
man  whose  money  educated  you,  you  stand  behind  a 
woman,  a  branded  poltroon,  unworthy  to  serve  the 
flag  you  own." 

An  exclamation  of  anger  burst  from  Bentham's 
throat.  This  was  too  much.  He  strode  toward  the 
privateer  with  clinched  hands  and  fiery  eyes. 


236  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

Norah  looked  appealingly  to  Throxton. 

She  felt  that  she  could  do  no  more. 

"  No  !"  suddenly  exclaimed  Benthara,  halting  almost 
within  reach  of  his  waiting  enemy.  "  I  shall  not  touch 
you,  viper.  M}'^  revenge  shall  not  consist  of  strokes 
with  hand  or  blade.  Get  me  writing  materials,  Throx> 
ton." 

The  Unionist  had  locked  the  door  and  removed  the 
key  some  time  before,  so  that  Powers  was  safely  caged. 

He  now  moved  forward,  and,  lifting  the  lid  of  a  desk, 
took  from  within  paper,  pens  and  ink,  which  he  placed 
at  the  Union  gunner's  disposal. 

The  Confederate  privateer  looked  wonderingly  on. 

What  nQ\^f  indignit}^  was  he  to  be  subjected  to  now? 

His  lips  met  firmly  as  he  took  a  mental  resolve  not 
to  barter  one  of  his  rights  away. 

He  would  die  rather  than  sign  an  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  United  States. 

Neither  would  he  put  the  name  of  Powers  to  a 
parole. 

"  I  will  respect  your  eagerness,  and  proceed  to  busi- 
ness, captain,"  said  Bentham,  turning  from  the  desk. 
"  Come  forward  and  take  up  the  pen." 

"  To  sign  the  rights  of  a  Confederate  officer  avt^ay  ? 
— never !"  was  the  flashing  rejoinder,  and  Powers 
seemed  to  brace  himself  more  firmly  where  he  stood. 

Bentham  and  Throxton  exchanged  rapid  glances  and 
a  sign. 

"  You  will  obey  Mr.  Bentham,  captain,"  said  the 
latter  firmly.  "  Disobedience  may  cost  you  more  than 
your  rights — life  itself  !" 

"  We  mean  business,  sir ;"  and  he  was  covered  by  a 
revolver,  which  Throxton  had  drawn,  "  Go  forward, 
sir,  and  take  up  the  pen.  Bentham  will  dictate  to  you  1" 


TEh  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  237 

Menaced  by  the  weapon,  above  which  were  the  cold 
gray  eyes  of  Throxton — a  man  who  feared  nothing — 
Powers  bit  his  lip  and  moved  forward. 

He  glared  savagely  at  Eentham,  and  a  muttered 
curse  was  heard  as  he  laid  hold  of  the  pen, 

"  Write  to  your  first  officer,  Jones,  now  on  board  the 
Destroyer,  as  follows,"  said  Benthara,  and  he  proceeded: 

*'  Mr.  Jones  :  On  receipt  of  this  you  will  turn  the 
command  of  the  ship  over  to  the  bearer,  and  submit  to 
him  in  every  particular.  I  have  been  detailed  on  a 
secret  mission  of  immediate  importance.  I  shall  leave 
Nassau  for  a  time,  but  will  join  you  ere  long.  The 
bearer  of  this,  Captain  Randolph,  is  a  thorough  sailor 
and  a  devoted  Confederate  ;  therefore  he  is  a  man  who 
can  be  trusted.  He  will  sail  from  Nassau  immediately. 
I  am  sure  that  you  will  obey  him  and  fight  the  ship 
under  him  as  you  would  fight  it  with  me  on  the 
quarter-deck.  Remember  that  the  Destroyer  is  to 
avenge  the  Swiftwing.  Powers." 

While  Bentham  spoke,  the  privateer's  pen  did  not 
touch  the  paper. 

He  straightened  his  handsome  figure,  and  glared  at 
the  Union  gunner  with  the  glittering  eyes  of  a  jungle 
tiger. 

"  This  is  infamy  without  a  parallel !"  he  exclaimed, 
as  Bentham  concluded.  "  You  would  force  me  to  be- 
come a  traitor  to  the  Confederacy.  Who  is  the  man 
designed  to  play  the  role  of  Captain  Randolph  in  this 
piece  of  rascality  ?" 

"  He  stands  before  you,"  answered  Bentham,  bowing. 

"  You  !  Then,  by  the  stars  of  heaven  !  I  will  die 
before  I  pen  a  word  of  the  message  I"  And  the  next 
moment  the  pen  was  hurled  from  the  incensed  Con- 
federate's hand  and  quivered  in  the  floor. 


238  TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

Throxton  advanced  a  stride. 

"  Write  or  die,  captain  !"  he  said,  in  tones  not  to  be 
mistaken.  "  We  do  not  intend  to  trifle  in  tiiis  matter. 
Repeat  the  message,  Benthara.     He  will  sign  !" 

Powers  hesitated  for  a  moment,  during  which  time 
he  glanced  from  Throxton  to  the  young  gunner,  who 
stood  ready  to  carry  out  the  Unionist's  command. 

All  at  once  he  stooped  and  tore  the  pen  from  the 
carpet. 

"  This  triumph  will  not  last !"  he  grated,  fixing  his 
eyes  for  a  moment  on  Beritham.  "  Carry  your  infamy 
through  to  the  end,  Robert  Bentham,  I  swear  that 
you  shall  never  tread  the  Destroyer's  quarter-deck  as 
her  commander !" 

With  the  last  word  he  turned  to  the  paper  on  the 
desk,  and  waited  for  Bentham's  dictatian. 

"  There,  you  are  satisfied  now  !"  he  exclaimed,  when 
he  had  written  the  last  word  and  turned  upon  Ben- 
tham. ''  You  have  triumphed ;  but  the  game  has  not 
been  played  through.     I  am  free  now  ?" 

He  strode  toward  the  door  as  he  concluded. 

"  Not  yet.  We  must  detain  you  here,  captain,"  said 
Throxton. 

The  priv^ateer  groaned, 

"  I  am  a  prisoner  still  ?"  he  said. 

«  Yes." 

"  For  how  long  ?" 

"  Until  after  the  Destroyer,  with  Captain  Randolph, 
has  sailed,"  smiled  Bentham. 

There  was  no  reply. 

If  Powers'  glance  could  have  killed  at  that  moment, 
Bentham  would  have  fallen  dead  in  his  tracks. 


THE  BLOCKADE  MUNNEB.  ^39 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

'twixt  love  and  duty. 

"  JuPE,"  exclaimed  Benthara. 

"  Here  I  is,  Marse  Bob,"  said  the  darky,  making  his 
appearance. 

"  Take  Captain  Powers  upstairs  to  the  back  room, 
and  mount  guard  outside." 

"  All  right,  sah.  Cap'n  Powers,  I  will  take  great 
pleasure,  sah,  in  showin'  you'se  ter  de  uppah  floor.  I  is 
'ticlar  perlite  ter  a  gen'l'raan  ob  yer  rank  an'  stashun 
in  de  Confed'rate  service,  an'  I  hope  dat  you'se  won't 
'blige  me  ter  'sist  yer  locomotion  wid  any  pers'nal 
'tention." 

Powers  glared  at  Jupe,  and  then  concealing  his 
great  chagrin  under  an  assumption  of  dignity,  he 
folded  his  arms  and  followed  his  conductor. 

"Now,  Bentham,"  said  Throxton,  "after  this  affair 
Nassau  will  be  too  hot  for  me  as  well  as  yourself. 
My  daughter  and  I  will  pack  our  things.  I  think  you 
had  better  get  on  board  the  Destroyer  as  soon  as  you 
can  and  assume  command.  Send  a  boat  to  the  land- 
ing in  an  hour  for  Norah,  my^ daughter,  Jupe  and  my- 
self.    We  will  be  ready." 

"  All  right,  Throxton." 

"  I  need  not  tell  you  that  it  would  be  advisable  to 
have  steam  up  and  everything  ready  for  departure." 

"  Certainly.  I  will  now  go  to  your  room  and  dis- 
guise myself.     It  is  lucky  you  have  taken  precautions 


240  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNEB. 

in  my  behalf  in  this  direction.  My  own  face,  you 
know,  would  never  pass  master  on  the  privateer,  for 
one  of  Powers'  petty  officers  and  several  of  the  crew 
have  already  seen  me.' 

At  this  moment  a  loud  rap  came  at  the  door. 

Throxton  peeped  out  through  the  blinds. 

"  Here's  a  complication,"  he  said. 

"  What  do  you  mean  V 

"  Who  do  you  suppose  seeks  admission  here?" 

"  I  have  no  idea." 

"  Captain  Powell." 

"  The  devil !  He  must  not  suspect  our  purpose.  I 
will  get  out  of  the  way,  and  do  you  get  rid  of  him  as 
best  you  can." 

A  second  knock,  louder  and  more  peremptory  than 
the  first,  accelerated  Bentham's  exit  from  the  room. 

As  soon  as  the  young  gunner  was  out  of  sight 
Throxton  opened  the  door  and  confronted  the  late 
commander  of  the  Foxhound. 

"Good-evening,  Mr.  Throxton,"  said  Powell,  "may 
I  ask  if  Bob  Bentham  and  Norah  Mowbray  are  in 
your  house  ?" 

"Miss  Mowbray  is  here,  Captain  Powell  ;  but  Ben- 
tham went  away,  a  short  time  since.  Were  he  here  I 
should  hardly  think  he  would  care  to  see  you." 

Powell  was  clearly  disappointed. 

"  He  need  not  fear  me,  Throxton.  I  won't  cause 
him  any  trouble." 

"He  does  not  fear  for  himself.  His  mission  to 
Nassau  was  on  his  sweetheart's  account,  and  now  thai, 
I  have  taken  charge  of  her,  he  expects  to  leave  town 
immediately." 

"My  niece  thinks  a  good  deal  of  Miss  Mowbray,'' 
said  Powell. 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  241 

"  The  feeling  is  reciprocated,  captain,  I  assure  you. 
Miss  Mowbray  says  that  your  niece  Dora  is  the  sweet- 
est girl  she  ever  met." 

Captain  Powell  was  evidently  gratified  at  this  in- 
telligence, and  after  a  pause  said  he  would  call  again 
perhaps. 

Powell  did  not  return  to  his  own  house  but  walked 
down  the  street. 

Ten  minutes  later  Bentham,  attired  as  the  pseudo 
Captain  Randolph,  slipped  out  of  the  house  and  took 
his  way  toward  the  water  front. 

He  found  one  of  the  steamer's  boats  at  the  mole. 

It  was  waiting  for  Captain  Dick  Powers,  according 
to  orders. 

It  had  been  there  some  time,  and  the  officer  in 
charge  had  grown  very  impatient. 

"  I  wish  to  go  on  board  the  Destroyer,"  said  Ben- 
tham politely. 

"  Who  are  you,  sir  ?"  asked  the  officer  in  surly  tones. 

"  Captain  Randolph,  of  the  Confederate  navy.  I 
am  to  take  charge  of  the  steamer  pending  Captain 
Powers'  absence." 

"  You  are  ?"  said  the  petty  officer  in  sarcastic  tones. 

"That's  what  I  said,  sir." 

"  You  be  blowed !  You  can  tell  that  to  the  ma- 
rines." 

"Sir!"  exclaimed  Bentham  with  dignity. 

*'  You  needn't  put  on  airs,"  said  the  officer.  "  I  don't 
know  you,  sir,  and  what's  more  I  don't  want  to.  This 
boat  is  waiting  for  Cap'n  Powers,  and  if  you  wait  long 
enough  you'll  see  him." 

"  Perhaps  if  you  will  look  at  this  note,  directed  ta 
Mr.  Jones,  your  first  officer,  you  will  see  that  I  speak 
the  truth." 


242  TEE  BLOCKADE  B  UNNEB. 

The  oflBcer  became  civil  at  once  as  soon  as  he  per- 
ceived the  letter  with  the  superscription. 

"  Captain  Powers  is  not  going  aboard  to-night 
then  ?"  he  said,  without  opening  the  note. 

"  I  am  to  act  for  the  time  being  in  Captain  Powers' 
stead.     I  wish  to  go  aboard  at  once." 

"  Very,  well,  cap'n — what  did  you  say  your  name 
is?" 

"  Randolph." 

"  All  right,  Cap'n  Randolph,  we'll  shove  off  at  once." 

On  their  way  they  passed  the  blockade  runner  Sea- 
bird,  on  board  which  the  reader  will  remember  Jupe 
had  his  short  but  exciting  adventure. 

She  had  steam  up,  a  rather  portentous  indication  of 
an  early  departure. 

Captain  IN^ugent,  however,  was  ashore  looking  up  his 
friend  Flash  Gilmor. 

In  a  few  minutes  Bentham  was  alongside  of  the 
Destroyer,  and  he  had  a  fair  view  of  the  new  priva- 
teer. 

She  was  a  powerful  iron  vessel,  pierced  for  a  broad- 
side of  six  guns,  was  painted  lead  color,  and  her  two 
masts  had  a  decided  rake. 

On  deck  our  hero  made  out  an  Armstrong  rifled  oun 
on  the  forecastle,  and  another  and  much  more  formid- 
able one  in  the  waist,  just  forward  of  the  funnel,  pre- 
cisely as  was  located  his  own  Parrott  gun  on  board  of 
the  Avenger. 

Altogether  she  was  an  ugly  customer — abundantly 
prepared  to  beat  off  a  great  many  of  Uncle  Sam's 
cruisers. 

Indeed,  if  well  manned  and  handled,  was  likely  to  hold 
her  own  against  the  Avenger,  which  vessel   was  ac- 


THE  BLOCKADB  RUNNER.  343 

knowledged  to  be  one  of  the  best  American  screw  war 
steamers. 

The  counterfeit  Captain  Randolph  presented  his 
letter  to  Mr.  Jones  on  the  quarter-deck. 

He  was  politely  received,  and  duly  vested  with  the 
authority  of  commander  j:?-/'*?  tern. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Jones,"  said  the  disguised  Bentham. 
"How  long  will  it  take  you  to  get  under  way." 

*■'  One  hour,  Cap'n  Randolph." 

"•  All  hands  are  aboard,  I  believe  ?" 

"Yes,  sir  ;  we  expected  to  sail  at  any  moment." 

"  Very  well ;  get  on  a  head  of  steam  at  once.  And, 
by  the  wa}',  send  a  boat  to  the  mole.  There  is  a 
gentleman,  his  servant,  and  two  ladies  coming  off." 

Mr.  Jones  looked  his  surprise. 

"  I  am  to  deliver  them  under  flag  of  truce  to  the 
first  Yankee  cruiser  we  sight." 

This  explanation  satisfied  the  first  officer  and  he 
gave  orders  to  send  the  boat. 

The  hour  had  nearly  elapsed  and  Bentham  was 
watching  for  the  return  of  the  boat  when  the  steamer 
was  hailed  from  the  port  side. 

"Hallo,  there,  what  do  you  want?"  said  a  petty 
officer. 

"  Want  ter  come  on  board,  boss." 

'"  Keep  away — you  can't  board  this  craft." 

"  Must  do  it,  Massa  Ossifer.  Got  a  message  from 
Oap'n  Powers  ter  Cap'n  Randolph." 

"  Hand  it  up,  then,  quick." 

"  Can't  do  it,  sah  ;  must  see  de  cap'n  myself.  Berry 
'ticklar."  ^ 

"  Qome  aboard,  then." 

"  All  right,  sah.     Be  up  in  a  twist  ob  a  cat's  tail." 


244  TEE  BLOCKADE  R  UNNER. 

In  a  moment  who  should  come  over  the  rail  but 
Jupe. 

"  Berry  kind  ob  you,  sab.     Whar's  de  cap'n  ?" 

"  Come  with  me>" 

"  'Spects  I  will,  sail." 

The  petty  oiRcer  spoke  to  Mr.  Jones  and  said  the 
negro  had  a  message  from  Captain  Powers  for  the  new 
commander, 

Jupe  was  brought  to  Benthara,  who  was  both  dis- 
turbed and  astounded  by  his  unexpected  appearance. 

"  In  heaven's  name,  Jupe  !"  he  whispered,  "  what's 
wrong." 

"  'Spects  eberyting  am  wrong.  You'se  better  get  out 
ob  here  quick' rn  greased  lightnin',  Massa  Bob,  or  you'll 
be  gobbled  up  for  suah." 

"  Explain  yourself.'" 

"Gap'n  Powers  done  escaped  from  dat  yer  room, 
sah.  I  found  it  out,  an'  foUered  him.  I  cotched  him 
near  de  square  and  fetched  him  a  berry  fine  crack  in  de 
jaw  dat  knocked  him  endwise  all  ob  a  heap.  Den  I 
put  fer  de  mole  in  a  hurry,  Marse  Bob,  feracrowd  got 
'bout  de  cap'n,  an'  it  would  hab  been  mighty  hotter  dis 
yer  chile  ter  stay  in  dat  yer  locality.  I  reckon  dat  he 
won't  recubber  from  dat  jawbreaker  fer  a  while,  but 
you'se  ain't  got  a  speck  ob  time  ter  spare.  Start  de 
engine  an'  get  away,  sah,  or  you'll  be  cotched  fer 
sartin," 

"And  leave  Norah,  and  the  others  behind,  Jupe? 
Impossible  !" 

"  Den  de  jig'll  be  up,  sah.  I  reckon  dat  it's  yer  duty, 
Marse  Bob,  now  dat  you'se  got  de  chance,  to  take  (lis 
yer  steamer  whar  de  Stars  an'  Stripes  '11  float  above 
her.     I  reckon  dat  she's  a  berry  bad  customer  under 


TEE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  ^45 

de  Confed'rate  flag.  If  dat  Cap'n  Powers  get  aboard 
she'll  do  a  heap  ob  damage  somewhar  ag'in  de  Yankees. 
I  guess  Marse  Bob  knows  his  duty,  sah." 

"  Yes,  Jupe,"  said  Bentham,  after  an  effort.  '-  It 
Avas  a  stuggle  between  love  and  duty,  but  ni}'  country 
Avins.  May  heaven  preserve  my  Korah  from  harm, 
and  may  Throxton  forgive  me  for  deserting  him  !  I 
have  but  one  course — and  I  ivill  act  on  it," 

He  issued  his  instructions  to  man  the  windlass  and 
get  under  way. 

"  The  boat  you  ordered  sent  ashore  has  not  returned," 
said  Mr.  Jones. 

"Never  mind  the  boat  now.  We  must  leave  with- 
out an  instant's  delay.     My  orders  are  imperative." 

Mr.  Jones  said  nothing,  though  he  looked  his 
surprise. 

In  a  brief  time  the  chain  vras  ail  in,  the  anchor 
catted,  and  the  DestJ'oyer  was  steaming  out  of  the 
harbor. 

A  few  persons  on  the  mole  watched  her  departure, 
and  mentally  wished  her  Godspeed,  for  their  hearts 
beat  for  the  Confederacy. 

There  was  scarcely  any  commotion  on  her  decks, 
and  before  a  great  while  she  had  left  the  lights  of 
Nassau  far  behind. 

All  at  once  the  occupants  of  the  mole  were  startled 
by  a  man  who  rushed  franticallj'  to  the  water's  edge, 
and  stared  seaward  like  a  madman. 

"  Too  late  !"  he  fairly  groaned.  "  They  have  carried 
the  infamous  conspiracy  out  to  the  letter.  The  De- 
stroyer wmII  be  sailing  under  the  infernal  Yankee  flag 
in  less  than  twenty-four  hours." 

His  manner  and  voice  attracted  everybody. 


246  TBE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

They  gathered  around  him. 

"  Captain  Powers  !''  exclaimed  several.  "  We  thought 
you  were  on  board  the  Destroyer." 

"  Would  I  be  here  if  I  was  ?"  was  the  answer.  "  I 
am  the  victim  of  one  of  the  most  infamous  conspi- 
racies on  record,  A  Yankee  sailor  commands  the  De- 
stroyer.    You  can  guess  what  his  intentions  are." 

"  Who  is  he  ?"  asked  a  voice  that  made  Powers  start. 

Captain  Powell  confronted  him. 

"  Who  but  Bentham,"  said  the  baffled  privateers- 
man.  "  Curse  you,  Powell !  If  it  had  not  been  for 
you  this  infamous  scheme  would  never  have  been 
consummated." 

The  speaker  glared  fiercely  at  the  blockade  runner. 

"  So,  Bob  Bentham  has  eloped  with  the  Destroyer, 
eh  ?"  laughed  Captain  Powell  sardonically.  "  By 
Jove !     This  is  the  hugest  joke  of  the  war  !" 

"Joke?  It's  a  lasting  stain  on  the  Confederate 
navy  !" 

"  1  can't  see  how  the  scheme  was  carried  out." 

''  I  was  secured  by  Throxton  and  Bentham  after  a 
desperate  resistance  and  compelled  to  sign  an  infamous 
order  to  my  first  officer,  directing  him  to  turn  the  com- 
mand of  my  steamer  over  to  the  bearer,"  said  Captain 
Powers,  the  last  word  ending  with  a  hiss.  "  Having 
secured  the  paper,  I  was  then  detained  a  prisoner  in 
order  to  give  the  conspirators  the  opportunity  to  put 
their  plot  through.  I  effected  my  escape  a  short  rime 
ago  and  came  straight  here,  only  to  discover  that  I  ;•:;! 
too  late." 

"  Rather  rough  on  you,"  said  Powell. 

"  Rough  ! — but  no  matter.  You  can  do  your  country 
a  service,  Ralph  Powell." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  247 

"How?" 

"By  getting  afloat  at  once,  pursuing  the  Destroyer 
and  recapturing  her. 

"That  is  impossible,  Powers.  I  have  no  ship.  You 
have  forgotten  that  the  Foxhound  is  at  the  bottom  of 
the  sea." 

For  a  moment  longer  the  two  captains  looked  at  one 
another,  then  Powers  held  out  his  hand. 

"We  need  not  be  foes.  I  forgive  you  all  your  blows, 
Powell,"  he  said.     "Let  us  combine." 

The  blockade  runner  drew  his  form  up  haughtily,  and 
answered  savagely,  as  he  turned  away: 

"Combine  with  you — with  a  man  who  let  a  Yankee 
steal  a  ship — never!"  he  said.  "I  have  too  much  respect 
for  the  cause  I  serve.  Captain  Powers.  Fight  your  own 
battles,  but  I  would  warn  you  to  be  careful  how  you 
cross  Bentham's  path.  He  learned  more  than  gunnery 
on  the  continent." 

Powers'  mad  look  followed  the  blockade  runner  until 
he  passed  out  of  his  sight,  when,  almost  bursting  with 
rage,  he  wheeled  to  leave  the  mole,  when  he  came  face 
to  face  with  Captain  Nugent. 

After  some  parleying,  the  blockade  runner  agreed  to 
take  Captain  Powers  on  the  Seabird  in  pursuit  of  the 
Destroyer.  It  would  only  be  necessary  to  get  within 
hail  and  make  himself  known  to  his  officers  and  crew. 
They  would  then  put  the  impostor  in  irons  and  restore 
their  proper  commander  to  his  place. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

A    STRATAGEM    OF    WAR. 

Black  and  angry-looking  clouds  hung  over  the  heavens 
like  a  pall  and  a  nasty  sea  was  running,  through  which 
the  Seabird  pitched  and  rolled  heavily. 

She  had  run  along  without  mishap  for  several  hours 
through  foggy,  squally  weather,  hugging  the  shore 
closely.  One  suspicious  vessel,  probably  a  Yankee 
cruiser,  had  come  in  sight,  but  the  fleet  Seabird  had 
easily  distanced  her. 

"I'm  afraid  this  will  prove  a  dangerous  mission  for 
me,"  said  Captain  Nugent,  as  he  paced  the  deck  with 
Captain  Powers.  "I've  got  a  snug  cargo  of  Enfield  rifles 
and  a  power  of  cartridges  aboard.  I'd  make  a  pretty 
prize  for  the  Yankees,  and  I  fear  there's  more  chance  of 
falling  in  with  a  cruiser  than  meeting  the  Destroyer." 

Before  Powers  could  reply  the  lookout  signaled  a 
steamer  was  dead  ahead. 

The  stranger  ahead  showed  a  clear  light,  and  might 
therefore  be  reckoned  a  war  vessel  without  the  con- 
jecture going  very  wide  of  its  mark. 

"What  do  you  think  of  her?"  asked  Captain  Nugent 
anxiously. 

"I  can't  say,"  replied  Powers,  v;ho  was  staring  through 
the  night-glass,  "but  I  hope  it's  the  Destroyer.  We  ought 
to  fetch  her  about  this  time." 

"I  fear  it's  a  Yankee." 

"I    hope    you'll     crawl    up    and    investigate,"     said 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  249 

Powers,  who  entertained  some  doubts  as  to  Nugent's 
intentions  since  the  narrow  shave  the  Seabird  had  from 
the  cruiser. 

"I'll  go  on  a  bit.  We  show,  no  light  of  any  kind  and 
lie  low  in  the  water.  Since  I've  gone  into  this  thing 
I'm  willing  to  take  some  chances,  but  you  must  under- 
stand I  can't  afford  to  lose  my  vessel,  even  to  assist  the 
Confederacy." 

"You  are  the  master  here  and  I  must  bow  to  what- 
ever you  decide  upon;  but  I  believe  there  is  a  reason- 
able chance  for  judging  that  yonder  craft  is  my  vessel. 
I  can  recognize  the  Destroyer  if  you  will  go  near 
enough  to  afford  me  a  plain  vifcw." 

"I  will  go  as  close  to  her  as  I  dare,"  said  Nugent 
frankly,  and  Captain  Powers  felt  that  that  was  all  he 
could  reasonably  expect  of  the  blockade  runner. 

It  was  certainly  a  risky  venture,  though  everything 
favored  the  little  lead-colored  steamer. 

The  vessel  ahead  was  under  moderate  speed,  so  that 
the  Seabird  crept  rapidly  up  to  the  windward. 

Captain  Powers  was  visibly  excited. 

He  was  more  than  half -assured  that  the  blot  on  the 
water,  a  couple  of  points  off  the  starboard  bow,  w^as 
the  wished-for  Destroyer. 

"What's  our  course?"  he  inquired. 

Nugent  consulted  the  binnacle,  which  was  shaded  so 
that  the  light  could  not  be  seen  seaward,  and  returned 
to  Powers. 

"East  by  east-sou'-east,"  he  said. 

"The  weather  has  thickened  so  that  I  can't  get  a  good 
view  of  the  steamer,"  said  Powers,  "but  we're  coming  up 
very  fast.  I  should  like  to  chance  a  private  signal  pretty 
soon,  if  you'll  allow  me.     If  it's  the  Destroyer,  she'll 


250  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

answer  it.  Bentham  couldn't  prevent  it  without  raising 
immediate  suspicion." 

"You  may  do  so,"  said  Nugent,  after  a  moment's 
reflection. 

"Thank  you,"  said  Captain  Powers. 

Half  an  hour  passed,  and  during  the  interval  it  began 
to  rain  heavily. 

The  stranger  was  almost  lost  sight  of  for  awhile. 

At  last  the  rain  let  up  and  the  weather  grew  much 
clearer. 

The  steamer  was  now  within  three  miles  and  plainly 
to  be  made  out  by  aid  of  the  glass. 

"I  could  swear  it's  the  Destroyer,"  said  Powers,  after 
a  good  look.  "Send  a  man  up  the  fore-rigging  with  a 
red  lantern,  and  another  at  his  heels  with  a  blue  one, 
and  let  off  steam  three  times  for  half  a  minute,  with  two 
intervals  between." 

The  directions  given  by  Captain  Powers  were  car- 
ried out  exactly. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  few  minutes,  three  red  lights 
appeared  in  the  stranger's  rigging  in  the  form  of  a  tri- 
angle. 

"It's  the  Destroyer!"  exclaimed  Powers,  almost  hug- 
ging Nugent  in  his  glee.  "Now,  Bob  Bentham,  this 
farce  will  soon  end !  Unless  you  jump  overboard  before 
I  reach  yonder  deck  I'll  hang  you  higher  than  Haman 
of  old!" 

"Steamer  on  port  bow !"  sung  out  the  lookout. 

So  engrossed  had  all  hands  been  with  the  stranger 
.-'.head  that  no  one  thought  of  looking  for  another 
vesr-el. 

The  watch  aloft,  whose  duty  it  was  to  discover  any 
vessel  as  soon  as  she  hove  in  sight,  had  certainly  been 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  251 

neglectful  in  his  duty,  for  the  second  steamer  was  close 
aboard  off  the  Seabird's  quarter,  and  had  evidently  run 
out  of  the  mist  that  was  slowly  clearing  away. 

At  that  moment  a  rocket  soared  upward  from  the 
Destroyer's  bow  and  burst  into  a  myriad  of  sparks. 

"What  the  devil  can  that  mean?"  exclaimed  Powers. 
"It's  very  strange." 

The  newcomer,  which  was  heading  directly  for  the 
Seabird,  now  altered  her  course  several  points  and  edged 
down  for  the  privateer  ahead. 

"Great  Scott!"  cried  Powers,  after  he  had  examined 
her  dark,  heaving  hull  through  his  glass.  "It's  the 
Avenger.  I  thought  she  was  leagues  away.  Put  on 
full  steam,  Nugent;  we  must  reach  the  Destroyer  first." 

"It's  too  risky,  Powers.  I  never  could  put  you 
aboard  your  craft  in  this  sea,  and  get  away  myself. 
I'm  in  range  of  the  Yankee  as  it  is.  All  that  saved 
us,  if  we  are  safe,  was  that  rocket  from  your  own 
vessel.  You'd  better  give  up  and  trust  the  rest  to  chance. 
Your  vessel  is  not  yet  lost.  Bentham  will  have  to  fight 
his  own  ship  or.be  exposed,  and  I  guess  that  would  set- 
tle his  goose." 

Powers  made  no  reply — ^he  was  far  too  excited  at 
the  sudden  change  in  the  aspect  of  affairs,  and  Cap- 
tain Nugent  took  advantage  of  the  diversion  to  change 
the  course  of  his  steamer. 

He  determined  to  sneak  out  of  harm's  way  if  he 
could. 

Powers  noticed  the  variation  in  the  Seabird's  course 
,  and  remonstrated. 

"I've  taken  all  the  risk  I  can  afford,"  said  Nugent 
decidedly.     "To  go  further  will  be  to  throw  away  my 


252  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

vessel  and  cargo.  I'm  off  to  Charleston  in  earnest.  Take 
my  advice,  Powers — trust  to  luck." 

Captain  Nugent  was  master  of  his  ow-n  steamer,  and 
having  decided  upon  his  line  of  action,  nothing  that 
Powers  said  made  the  faintest  impression  on  him. 

The  Seabird  was  now  headed  N.  E,  by  N.  and  going 
ahead  at  top  speed,  increasing  her  distance  every  mo- 
ment from  the  Yankee  cruiser,  who  paid  her  no  further 
attention,  but  bore  down  on  the  Destroyer, 

*  *  *  *  >(: 

We  will  return  to  Robert  Bentham  and  the  faithful 
Jube. 

The  latter  had  been  turned  over  to  Mr.  Jones,  who 
sent  him  forward  to  mess  with  the  crew. 

Jupe  had  received  secret  instructions  from  the  soi- 
disant  Captain  Randolph  as  to  the  part  he  might  be  ex- 
pected to  play  in  the  impending  drama. 

He  carried  on  his  person  a  signal  rocket  which  he  was 
to  discharge  from  the  privateer's  bow  at  the  proper 
moment. 

It  was  an  act  that  bristled  with  danger,  for  was  his 
agency  in  the  affair  discovered,  he  might  better  jump 
into  the  sea  than  face  the  exasperated  crew. 

Bentham's  situation  was  one  of  peril  and  difficulty. 

He  had  to  so  perform  his  hazardous  mission  that  no 
suspicion  of  his  true  character  should  be  evident  to  the 
astute  Mr.  Jones,  or  any  other  quarter-deck  officer. 

He  was  surrounded  by  watchful  eyes,  and  an  error 
of  judgment  might  cost  him  his  life  on  the  spot. 

Meanwhile  the  Destroyer  got  fairly  to  sea,  and  under 
half-speed  was  churning  her  way  through  foam  and 
spray. 

As  soon  as  Great  Abaco  light  was  fairly  seen  on  the 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  253 

port  beam,  Bentham  went  below  and  coolly  took  posses- 
sion of  Captain  Powers'  stateroom. 

There  were  several  Yankee  cruisers  on  the  station, 
but  not  one  had  been  sighted  up  to  the  instant  he  had 
quitted  the  deck.  , 

The  clouds  were  opaque  above,  with  a  heavy  sea  be- 
low, and  a  dense  mist  around,  and  the  general  prospect 
not  encouraging  to  the  young  gunner,  though  quite 
satisfactory  to  everybody  else,  if  we  except  Jupe,"  in 
the  ship. 

The  negro  was  very  alert  and  active  on  the  main 
gun-deck. 

He  glided  from  gun  to  gun,  pausing  at  each  for  a 
while,  and  paying  great  attention  to  the  breech  of  the 
weapon. 

What  was  he  doing? 

His  movements  escaped  notice,  and  by  and  by  he  went 
on  the  upper  deck  and  crawled  under  the  tarpaulin  that 
protected  the  huge  Armstrong  rifle  amidships. 

Some  time  afterward  he  might  have  been  seen  on 
the  rise  of  the  forecastle,  where  the  wicked-looking 
bow-chaser  was  snugly  wrapped  in  its  canvas  over- 
coat. 

After  that  Jupe  clung  persistently  to  the  waist  of 
the  privateer,  and  sought  shelter  from  the  rain  and 
spray  under  the  cover  of  the  pivot  rifle,  but  maintained 
a  position  where  he  could  easily  command  a  view  of  the 
quarter-deck. 

Bentham  was  below  when  a  steamer  was  reported 
about  five  miles  dead  astern,  and  he  immediately  went 
on  deck. 

This  was  the  Seabird,  as  already  described,  but  her 


254  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNSR. 

identity  was  unknown  to  any  one  on  board  the  priva- 
teer. 

The  general  impression  prevailed  for  a  time  that  the 
craft,  which  was  rapidly  overhauling  them,  was  a  Yankee 
cruiser. 

Finally,  when  the  mist  and  rain  dissolved  and  the 
atmosphere  cleared,  Powers'  signal  created  a  decided 
sensation. 

Mr.  Jackson,  the  second  officer,  had  charge  of  the 
deck,  and  he  duly  reported  the  signal,  the  import  of 
which  was  read  to  mean:  "Lay  to  till  we  speak 
you." 

Bentham  received  the  intelligence  without  a  quiver, 
and  coolly  directed  Jackson  to  return  a  suitable  answer. 

Directly  afterward  the  second  steamer  seen  from 
the  Seabird's  deck  shot  into  view  out  of  the  mist  bank 
fast  receding  to  the  westward,  and  Bentham,  fully  alive 
to  his  desperate  situation,  gave  the  signal  to  Jupe,  who 
at  once  crawled  forward  to  the  forecastle,  dropped 
into  the  chains  and  sent  up  the  rocket,  which,  if  the 
stranger  was  a  Yankee  war-vessel,  as  seemed  likely, 
would  be  understood  at  once. 

The  sending  up  of  the  rocket  caused  great  commotion 
on  board  the  Destroyer,  for  it  was  evidently  a  signal 
to  the  enemy,  who  was  observed  to  change  her  course 
and  stand  directly  for  the  privateer. 

Bentham  watched  her  approach  with  anxiety. 

As  she  drew  near  her  appearance  grew  more  and  more 
familiar  to  him,  until  finally  he  felt  assured  that  she  was 
his  own  ship  the  Avenger,  which  he  thought  was  miles 
and  miles  away  on  her  regular  mission, 

Bentham  now  observed  that  the  first  steamer — the  one 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER.  255 

which  had  signaled  a  short  time  before — had  altered  her 
course  and  was  steaming  away  to  the  northward. 

As  the  Avenger  approached,  Bentham,  to  maintain 
his  character,  was  compelled  to  clear  the  steamer  for 
action,  and  every  preparation  was  made  for  a  desperate 
fight. 

At  this  point  in  affairs  a  great  outcry  arose  from  the 
gun-deck. 

An  officer  hurriedly  appeared  on  the  quarter-deck 
and  announced  that  the  vents  of  all  the  guns  had  been 
tampered  with — not  seriously,  but  enough  to  cause  delay 
and  a  feeling  of  exasperation  against  the  perpetrator. 

The  impression,  caused  by  the  discharge  of  the  rocket, 
that  there  was  a  traitor  on  board,  was  now  confirmed, 
and  the  crew  were  furious. 

Dire  threats  of  vengeance  prevailed. 

Bentham  without  hesitation  ordered  a  thorough  search 
"of  the  vessel,  and  while  this  was  going  on  a  second  rocket 
went  up  from  the  privateer's  bows,  to  the  consternation 
of  all  on  board. 

The  usual  signal  for  name -and  number  was  displayed 
by  the  Yankee  in  her  rigging,  but  merely  as  a  preliminary 
to  the  shot  which  immediately  followed  from  her  bow- 
chaser. 

While  many  of  the  Confederate  crew  were  making 
things  hum  on  the  forecastle,  trying  to  discover  the 
traitor  who  had  done  the  signaling,  a  blue  light  sprang 
into  a  flame  on  the  bulwark  rail  just  under  the  break 
of  the  poop. 

The  crew  of  the  Armstrong  rifle  rushed  to  the  side 
as  one  man  and  extinguished  it.  While  they  were  doing 
this  a  crash   came  up  from  the  engine-room,  the  ma- 


^ 


256  THE  BLOCKADE   RUNNER. 

chinery  stopped,  and  the  privateer  rolled  slowly  from 
side  to  side  on  the  heaving  sea. 

Crash ! 

A  shot  from  the  Avenger's  heavy  Parrott  gmi  smashed 
in  the  weather  bulwark  and  struck  the  carriage  of  the 
Armstrong  rifle,  jamming  the  gearing  so  that  the  gun 
could  not  be  worked  on  its  traversing-platform. 

The  greatest  excitement  prevailed. 

The  Avenger  continued  to  approach  rapidly,  firing 
her  bow  gun  and  forward  battery. 

The  assistant-engineer  reported  to  the  pseudo  Cap- 
tain Randolph  that  the  chief  engineer  had  been  stunned 
by  some  one  who  had  come  upon  him  unawares,  and 
who  then  threw  a  heavy  steel  bar,  which  was  used  in 
the  engine-room,  among  the  rods,  causing  a  smash-up 
that  could  not  be  repaired  for  hours. 

Bentham's  indignation  was  admirably  assumed. 

He  had  already  dispatched  the  second  and  third  officers 
to  search  the  steamer. 

He  now  sent  Mr.  Jones  down  into  the  engine-room, 
and  walked  to  the  break  of  the  poop. 

Jupe  was  apparently  assisting  the  crew  of  the  Arm- 
strong gun,  who  were  trying  to  extricate  the  can-iage 
from  the  difficulty  it  was  in. 

Bentham  called  him  to  the  quarter-deck,  and  sent 
him  with  hurried  instructions  to  the  wheel. 

Jupe  slipped  quickly  behind  the  helmsman,  and  lift- 
ing him  in  his  powerful  embrace,  tore  him  from  his  hold 
on  the  spokes  and  tossed  him  overboard. 

He  then  jammed  the  wheel  hard  down,  bringing  the 
Destroyer  up  into  the  wind's  eye,  so  that  her  broad- 
side would  not  bear  upon  the  Avenger,  which  had  ceased 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER,  257 

firing  and  was  close  aboard  on  the  privateer's  port  quar- 
ter. 

"What  steamer  is  that?"  roared  Captain  Graham  from 
the  mizzen  rigging  of  the  cruiser. 

"Confederate  steamer  Destroyer,"  shoutQ^  Bentham. 
"Pipe  away  your  boats  and  take  possession — quick!" 

No  doubt  Captain  Graham  was  astonished  with  the 
general  character  of  the  reply,  but  he  lost  no  time  in 
issuing  orders. 

The  Avenger  held  a  raking  position. 

The  boatswain's  whistle  came  lustily  down  on  the 
wind,  three  boats  were  lowered  and  the  crews  were  soon 
over  the  side  and  into  the  launches  in  true  man-o'-war 
style. 

The  boats  danced  over  the  water  quickly,  but  the 
Confederate  crew,  not  having  understood  their  quarter- 
deck reply  to  the  Yankee's  hail,  were  preparing  for  a 
desperate  resistance. 

"It's  useless,  my  men,"  said  Bentham,  looking  down 
upon  such  of  the  crew  as  were  ready  to  repel  boarders. 
"We  have  been  betrayed  and  must  surrender.  Yonder 
craft  can  sweep  us  from  stern  to  stern.  Look  at  his 
guns  run  out,  and  the  men  hold  the  lanyards  ready. 
We  can't  help  ourselves." 

The  crew  were  thunderstruck  and  their  demoraliza- 
tion was  complete. 

Mr.  Jones  at  that  moment  rushed  up  from  the  engine- 
room  and  sprang  upon  the  quarter-deck. 

"What's  the  meaning  of  this,  Captain  Randolph? 
Treachery  has  ruined  us.  The  machinery  is  wrecked. 
Our  guns  have  been  tampered  with,  and  signal  rockets 
discharged.  I  believe  that  infernal  nigger  is  at  the 
bottom  of  this !" 


258  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

He  drew  his  revolver,  but  Bentham  arrested  his 
arm. 

"Don't  be  rash,  Mr.  Jones." 

"Rash,  sir !"  exclaimed  the  Confederate  officer,  turn- 
ing upon  him  in  a '  rage,  "It's  my  opinion  you're  the 
cause  of  all  this." 

Bentham  made  no  reply. 

"In  the  devil's  name  who  are  you?"  cried  llu 
officer. 

"Bob  Bentham,  of  the  United  States  cruiser  Ave:r;ci- 
yonder,  and  you  are  my  prisoner !" 

Bentham  tore  off  his  false  beard. 

"Then  your  life  shall  pay  forfeit  for  your  treacher}- '" 
cried  Mr.  Jones. 

"Jupe!" 

The  negro  sprang  upon  the  Confederate  officer  just 
as  Lieutenant  Haskins  of  the  Avenger's  first  cutter 
sprang  over  the  stern  rail,  where  the  negro  had  thrown 
ropes  to  afiford  means  of  ascent  to  the  cutter's  crew. 

At  the  same  moment  the  Destroyer  was  boarded  rt 
the  waist  and  at  the  chains  forward. 

In  a  twinkling  forty  jack  tars  were  on  deck  driving 
the  disorganized  Confederate  crew  below. 

"Bentham!"  exclaimed  Lieutenant  Haskins,  hardly 
believing  his  eyes. 

"Ay,  ay,  sir,"  touching  his  cap.  "I  take  great  pleas- 
ure in  turning  over  to  you  the  possession  of  the  Con- 
federate privateer  Destroyer." 

"Treacherous  hound !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Jones,  as  he  lay 
upon  the  deck  encircled  by  Jupe's  arms,  "you  shall  hang 
some  day  for  this !" 

"Thank  you,"  said  Bob  Bentham  politely.  "I'll  take 
the  risk." 


THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER,  259 

Having  seen  Bentham,  the  gallant  young  gunner,  tri- 
umphant in  one  of  the  shrewdest  games  of  the  whole 
war,  the  story  is  almost  told. 

But  how  happened  it  that  the  Avenger,  which  had 
been  bound  southward,  came  to  turn  up  so  opportunely 
at  her  old  cruising  ground  ? 

Captain  Graham  had  touched  at  Havana,  where  he 
found  an  order  from  the  secretary  of  war  calling  his 
attention  to  the  fact  that  the  department  had  been 
advised  of  the  fitting  out  at  Nassau  of  a  new  and  dan- 
gerous privateer  called  the  Destoyer,  which  was  to  be 
entrusted  to  Captain  Powers,  late  commander  of  the 
Swiftwing. 

The  order  directed  Graham  to  return  to  the  Bahamas 
and  head  her  off,  which  he  did,  with  the  result  we  have 
already  detailed. 

Bentham  was  dispatched  home  in  the  captured  priva- 
teer, which  was  in  command  of  the  Avenger's  second 
officer  as  prize  master.  He  wore  a  lieutenant's  uniform 
when  he  rejoined  the  Avenger,  and  a  commander's  at  the 
close  of  the  war;  but  long  before  the  happy  termination 
of  the  conflict  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  the  girl  of 
his  heart — Norah  Narcross,  otherwise  Mowbray. 

The  large  estate  left  by  Gordon  Mowbray  was  con- 
fiscated on  a  technicality  by  the  Confederate  govern- 
ment ;  but  at  the  end  of  the  war,  Bentham  instituted  legal 
proceedings  and  recovered  for  his  wife  a  portion  of  her 
property. 

As  for  Powell,  the  blockade  runner,  he  served  the 
Confederacy  in  that  capacity  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  many  was  the  rich  cargo  he  bore  across  the  seas 
to  the  lost  cause. 

Jupe,  the  faithful  black,  remained  with  Bentham  to 


2G0  THE  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

the  close  of  the  terrible  conflict,  and  served  the  Union 
bravely  in  many  a  desperate  encounter  afloat  and  ashore. 

It  seems  that  the  letter  which  so  mysteriously  reached 
Bentham  after  the  great  naval  fight  in  Hampton  Roads 
had  been  intrusted  to  a  slave  for  delivery,  but  something 
frightened  the  messenger  so  that,  instead  of  placing  it 
in  Bentham's  hands,  he  left  it  under  the  bastion  where  it 
was  found  and  served  its  purpose. 

The  loyal  Throxton,  of  course,  never  returned  to  Nas- 
sau after  his  escape  with  the  gunner  in  i;he  Destroyer. 
If  he  had  he  would  have  been  seized  and  summarily 
dealt  with. 

Powers  and  Powell  would  have  hunted  him  down. 

He  entered  the  Union  service  before  the  close  of  the 
war,  serving  under  Bentham,  who  commanded  the 
Avenger  at  the  close  of  hostilities.  He  was  rewarded 
for  his  services  at  Nassau. 

Dora,  Powell's  niece,  married  a  Confederate  captain, 
and  Jennie  Throxton  found  a  lover  and  husband  in  the 
person  of  a  young  Union  officer. 

Peace  hovers  over  land  and  sea,  and  bestows  her 
laurels  upon  friend  and  foe  alike — whether  they  trod 
the  decks  of  a  Union  brig,  or  manned  the  guns  of  a 
Confederate   sloop-of-war. 

[the  end.] 


\. 


■m: 


i  W  A  R I  ■ 

w  The  real   definition   of   war   is :     "An   armid   stiu;;;;U>    for 

Ifl)  till'  attiiiiiiiiciii  of  iiiitioiiiil  aspinitions." 

«/  Tlio   liisior.v   of  war   is   one   loiij;   story  of  the  attempt  of 

(fl)  some  powerful  nation  to  dominato'otlv.r  natious. 

W  Kvory    war    prior    to    tlic   prosi'Ut    liiinopcaii    calamity    con- 

[0]  tril)iiii'(l   iis   slraiid  of   troidiic   to   tiie  general  web,   until  tbo 

^  vvljole  ^orld   liccame   eiitaii;rl<<i. 

(fl  If  jXiu   waut    to    know   spiiu-tbJns   of   the   wars   wliicti   led 

w*  up    t^^tlie    awful    strutr^le    now     r(?in{;,  on. .  we    l<now    of    no 

m  ploasanter    way    for   you    to    i;c(    kuiU  '  information    tlian    by 

^  rcadinj;  stories   about   (iiaracdTs    ,\ii<>   toolc   part    in   wars  in 

ffl]  cvi'ry    land.      You    car.    make  your   selection   from   amonj;   the 

W,  following,   and  your   news   dealer  will  f;ejt   tlieui   for  you   o.t 

1  TEN  CENTS  THE  COPY 


I 


WAR  STORIES  IN  THE  £A£LE  SERIES 

S2— Tl.e   lUockade   Runner    (Civil   War). 

:{7— Tlie   Heart   of   Viruiuia    (I'ivil   War). 

;!!)— Thr     \     nels   Wife    (Civil   War). 

47^ — Tlie  Colonel  by  r.rcvet  (  Knsso-Turkish  War). 

r.6 — The  Dispatch   T.earer   (Civil  War). 

(!.'> — Won  by  the  Sword   (Civil  War), 

7r>— ITnder    Fire    (Civil    War). 

S7— Sl)enandoah   (Civil  War). 

t»7— The  War   Ueporler   (Civil  War). 
KIS— A  Son  of  Mars   ( r.ritish-Afjjlian  War). 
].">() — A  Soldier  Lover   (Civil  War). 
LMO— Sav(>d  1>.V  the  Sword   (Gr.-eco-Turkish). 
■!()(> — Fi'lipe's   Pretty  Sisti>r   (Filipino  Insurrection). 
^27 — For  Love  and  Glory    (Filipino  Insurrection). 

WAR  STORIES  IN  THE  MEDAL  IJBRARY 

^5 — In   the  Reijjn  of  Terror    (French   Revolution). 

.",» — With  Hoer  and  Britislier  in  the  Transvaal   (ISoer  War). 

84 — The  Hutcher  of  Cawnpore   (ISritish-Sepoy  Rebellion). 

n.') — P.y   Sheer   IMuck    (  Uritish-.Xfrican  I. 
11.*? — The  I$nivest  of  the  Uravc  (War  of  Spanish  Snceession). 
126 — From     I'owder    Monkey     to    Admiral     (French-English 

War). 
128 — For  Name  and   Fame    (I^ritish-Afshnn   War). 
140 — With  Wolfe  in  Canada  (French  Canadian  War). 
104 — The  Corn(>t  of  Horse   (War  of  Spanish  Succession). 
ISO— One  of  the  'JSth    (Last  Napoleonic  War). 
'jr«n — Sword  and   Pen    (Chino-.Tat)anese  War). 
278 — In  Time  of  Peril    (Rritish-Sepoy  RehelHon). 
.■?41 — The  Fighting  Snuadron   (Spanish-American  War). 
t\Tm — A    Prisoner  of  Morro   (Spanish-American   War). 
30J) — Court-Martialed    (Spanish-American   War). 

WAR  STORIES  IN  THE  SELECT  LIBRARY 

27 — Fnder  Two  Flags  (French -Algerian  War). 

.'">2 — Macaria    (Civil   War). 

72 — Plain  Tales  from  tlu-  Rills  (Rritish-Indo  War). 


® 


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